Motivation

India declared its net-zero target by 2070 at COP26 in Glasgow, 2021 (PIB, 2021). It is all set to communicate its updated NDCs to UNFCCC as Union Cabinet chaired by PM has approved the same by translating the world five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate action announced in COP26 into enhanced climate targets. The two of five targets are revision in quantitative targets of 2015 NDCs that are cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources to reach 50% and reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels (PIB, 2022)[1]. The said targets aim towards India’s clean energy transition for the period 2021-2030 as well as to meet the long-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.

However, pattern of India's economic growth and emissions raise both challenges and opportunities in its decarbonisation. India is among the fastest growing economy and the continuous increasing energy demand both at supply and demand side poses a serious challenge to its decarbonisation pathway. It is the need of hour that India should frame a consistent robust strategy towards its low-carbon future and should evaluate the possible challenges and opportunities, investments and policy framework towards net-zero transition.

Objective

India needs to take immediate action towards combating the climate change. I propose to model net-zero pathways by adopting realistic assumption in framing national scenarios, incorporating fine granularity in considering the inputs in the model and relevant sectoral technological shifts in framing the interim targets for net-zero as my research agenda.

Methodology

The research work proposes to use IIASA’s MESSAGEix modelling framework, a bottom-up linear/mixed integer optimisation tool (Huppmann et al., 2019). Currently, the work of data collection from primary government sources and model design for baseline scenario is in progress.

Online certification workshops and training programs

• Training program on ‘An Introduction to Climate Change: Science, Politics and Impacts’ by CSE, New Delhi (May 17-28, 2021)

• MESSAGEix workshop by IIASA (June 7–11, 2021)

• Training workshop on 'Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and GHG Mitigation in India using GAINS Model’ (September 13-17, 2021) by TIFAC

• Training course on ‘Python Programming’ by Electronics & ICT Academies (July 26 – August 06, 2021)
  

Reference

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1847812; Posted On: 03 AUG 2022 2:33PM by PIB Delhi

• Huppmann, D. et al. (2019) ‘The MESSAGE Integrated Assessment Model and the ix modeling platform (ixmp): An open framework for integrated and cross-cutting analysis of energy, climate, the environment, and sustainable development’, Environmental Modelling & Software, 112, pp. 143–156.