NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The UN’s latest report, "Raising Ambition, Accelerating Action," highlights significant gaps in forest protection, management, and restoration within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

• About: It is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

oIt is not a legally binding or enforceable commitment.

• Paris Agreement Requirement: Each Party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years.

• Objective: To reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation.
• Targets: NDCs are where countries set targets for mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and for adapting to climate impacts.
• Climate Finance: Since climate finance is key to implementing the plans, NDCs ideally also detail a financing strategy.

India’s Updated First Nationally Determined Contribution 

• India aims for a 33 to 35% reduction in emissions intensity (or emissions per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels by 2030.
• Renewable Energy Generation: India targets at least 40% of total electricity generation to come from non-fossil renewable sources by 2030.
• Increase in Forest Cover: India plans to increase forest cover to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.