As global leaders discuss the impact of climate change in Paris, a binding solution on reduction of emission must emerge. India’s per capita emissions are a fraction of those in the West and per capita energy consumption is one of the lowest among emerging economies.
As India’s energy needs rise, the country has committed to reduce the emission intensity or emission per unit of GDP. It will also have to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel like coal for energy which is the largest pollutant. The growth in the energy sector and the use of fossil fuels have resulted in increased emission of carbon dioxide and other green house gases.
The findings of IPCC indicate that there was 0.4 degree centigrade change in the surface temperature in India. In fact, the World Bank has estimated an additional 100 million people globally will fall into extreme poverty by 2030 on account of climate change, of which 45 million will be in India.
