India’s BUR-4 Highlights 36% Emissions Intensity Reduction and Progress Toward 2030 Climate Goals

(Source – Indian Express)

Analysis of the news:

Overview of the BUR

• The Biennial Update Report (BUR) is a mandate under the UNFCCC for developing countries to detail their climate action efforts.
• Submitted as part of the Paris Agreement, India’s BUR-4, filed in December 2024, includes GHG emissions data, mitigation measures, and financial and technological support received.

Progress on Emissions Reduction

• India reported a 36% reduction in GDP emissions intensity from 2005 to 2020, advancing toward its 2030 target of a 45% reduction.
• Total GHG emissions in 2020 were 2,959 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with net emissions at 2,437 million tonnes after accounting for carbon sinks.
• Notably, emissions fell 7.93% compared to 2019 but rose 98.34% since 1994 due to economic growth.

Sectoral Emissions Breakdown

• Energy Sector: Largest contributor at 75.66%, with electricity production alone accounting for 39%.
• Agriculture: Contributed 13.72%, largely from methane emissions.
• Industrial and Waste Sectors: Accounted for 8.06% and 2.56%, respectively.
  CO2 emissions dominated (80.53%), followed by methane (13.32%) and nitrous oxide (5.13%).

Achievements on Climate Goals

India’s updated NDCs (2022) aim for 50% non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030 and an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. BUR-4 highlighted progress:

• Non-fossil fuel-based power capacity reached 46.52% by October 2024.
• 2.29 billion tonnes of additional CO2 equivalent carbon sink created (2005-2021).
• PAT (Perform, Achieve, and Trade) scheme saved 19.3 Mtoe of energy and reduced 28.74 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2012-2022).

Technological Needs for Low-Carbon Growth

India underscored the need for advanced technology to support climate adaptation and low-carbon growth. Barriers include slow technology transfer and intellectual property issues.

• Energy Sector: Ultra-efficient photovoltaic cells, floating wind turbines, geothermal technology.
• Industrial Sector: Carbon capture and storage for cement, iron, and steel.
• Water Sector: Solar and wind-powered desalination for arid regions.

Conclusion

• India’s BUR-4 demonstrates steady progress toward its climate goals while highlighting the challenges of balancing economic growth, emissions reduction, and technology adoption.
• The report underscores the importance of global support to overcome barriers and accelerate climate-conscious development.

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