India to Release Updated Climate Action Plan Ahead of COP30

In preparation for the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil, India is poised to release an updated version of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
As part of the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit updated NDCs every five years, with each new iteration aiming to be more ambitious than the last.
India’s updated climate action plan will likely build upon the existing targets, focusing on emission reductions, expanding renewable energy, and increasing carbon sinks through forest cover.

NDCs are the climate action targets that each country, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, pledges to achieve in order to mitigate climate change.
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with an upper limit of 2°C.
To achieve this, signatories, including India, are required to regularly update their NDCs every five years, setting out concrete goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transition to renewable energy.
India’s updated NDCs are particularly significant due to their emphasis on energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and carbon emission reductions.
The targets set under India’s NDCs will have a significant impact not just domestically, but also in the broader context of international climate action.

India’s first NDC, submitted in 2015, committed to reducing its emissions intensity (emissions per unit of GDP) by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030.
It also set a target of ensuring 40% of its electricity capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
In its second NDC (2022), India revised its targets:
45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 (up from 33-35%).
50% non-fossil fuel energy share in electricity generation by 2030 (up from 40%).
By June 2025, India reported installing at least 50% of its power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.

India’s climate strategy is built around three key goals:
Reducing Emissions Intensity: Aiming for further reductions in emissions intensity as part of its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Expanding Renewable Energy: Scaling up the share of solar, wind, and nuclear power in India’s energy mix.
Enhancing Carbon Sinks: Expanding forest cover and implementing afforestation efforts to increase carbon sequestration.
India’s 2022 NDC also committed to creating an additional 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon sinks through enhanced forest management.
According to the 2023 State of the Forest Report, India is already on track to meet this goal, having increased its forest carbon stock by 2.29 billion tonnes by 2021.

NDC 3.0: Updated NDCs expected to reflect emissions reductions by 2035.
So far, 30 out of 190 countries have submitted their NDCs. Many countries typically submit NDCs just before annual climate talks.

EU: Expected to submit NDCs with a 2035 target of a 66.25%–72.5% reduction (compared to 1990 levels).
Australia: Updated NDCs targeting 62%–70% reduction (compared to 2005 levels) by 2035.
United States: Exited the Paris Agreement, no new targets.
China: Uncertain if ambitious NDCs will be announced before COP30.
India:
- Signed a JCM (Joint Crediting Mechanism) with Japan, in talks with other countries for similar agreements.
- India Carbon Market to be operational by 2026, with 13 sectors set mandatory emission-intensity targets and the ability to trade emission reduction certificates.