India’s Second Biennial Update Report to UNFCCC

India’s Second Biennial Update Report to UNFCCC

What is the News?

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Submission of India’s second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards the fulfilment of the reporting obligation under the Convention.

The second biennial update report aims to provide an update to India’s first biennial report to the United Nation’s body on climate change.

Key Features of the report

• The submission of India’s second BUR would fulfil the obligation of India to furnish information regarding implementation of the convention, being a party.
• The report contains five major components including
  • National Circumstances;
  • National Greenhouse Gas Inventory;
  • Mitigation Actions;
  • Finance, Technology and Capacity Building Needs;
  • Support Received and Domestic Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) arrangements.
• The report has been prepared based on a range of studies conducted at the national level.

Key findings of the Report

• The net national GHG emissions after including Land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) were 23, 06,295 Gg COa equivalent.
• Out of the total emissions, energy sector accounted for 73%, IPPU 8%, agriculture 16% and waste sector 3%.
• About 12% of the emissions were offset by the carbon sink action of forestland, cropland and settlements.

India’s proposed targets:

• Reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
• Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
• Achieve about 40% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance.