Running on clean hopes, dirty fuel

The recent landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice on emission reduction served as a wakeup call for the developed world, led by the US, but it also sent a clear message to China and India.

- S DINAKAR

Together, these three countries were responsible for 53 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in 2024, according to the Energy Institute (EI) Statistical Review of World Energy.

China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), accounting for roughly a third of global emissions, followed by the US and India. China and India contributed to 62 per cent of last year's global emissions increase, with India seeing the fastest rise among major economies-over 4 per cent year-on-year. China's emissions growth slowed to 1.2 per cent, while the US saw a marginal decline of 0.8 per cent, according to a report by UK think tank EI, in collaboration with consultants Kearney and KPMG.

Given its rapidly rising emissions, India may need to hit the accelerator on renewable energy. Earlier this month, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said, "In a world seeking climate solutions, India is showing the way by achieving 50 per cent non-fossil fuel capacity five years ahead of the 2030 target." Of India's 484.8 gigawatt (Gw) total installed capacity, 242.8 Gw from now comes renewable or lowcarbon sources, according to the ministry.

But India has long maintained a relatively high share of non-fossil fuel capacity.

Back in 2005, when climate change first gained global attention and 197 countries ratified the Kyoto Protocol, non-fossil sources already played a major role. By 2009, nuclear, hydro, and wind accounted for about 52 Gw, or 35 per cent of India's 147 Gw installed capacity.

Despite recent progress, the current rollout of renewables may still be too sluggish to counter India's rapid emissions growth, experts say.

India's carbon emissions rose 4.1 per cent in 2024 the highest among major economies 4x the global average and over 3x China's.