Overview
- India’s Union Cabinet, which approved the 2031–2035 climate pledge on Wednesday, set three goals that include a 47% cut in emissions intensity from 2005 levels by 2035, 60% non‑fossil power capacity, and a 3.5–4.0 billion tonne CO2e carbon sink.
- The government will file the plan with the UN climate body and roll out sector roadmaps led by NITI Aayog that lean on renewables, battery storage, green hydrogen, new grid corridors, more nuclear power, and large afforestation drives.
- Officials pointed to delivery so far, citing a 36% drop in emissions intensity by 2020, non‑fossil sources topping 52% of installed power capacity by February 2026, and a 2.29 billion tonne forest‑based sink by 2021.
- UN climate chief Simon Stiell welcomed Thursday’s move and said the signals could draw investment into clean energy and electric mobility while supporting domestic manufacturing and jobs.
- The package adds qualitative pledges on resilient infrastructure, adaptation, sustainable lifestyles through LiFE, a just transition, and mainstreaming climate action, and analysts called the step credible yet modest without faster sector decarbonization and stronger finance to stay near 1.5°C; it aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047 and net‑zero 2070.