China, U.S. and India, top in emissions absent at Climate Ambition Summit
Current Affairs for 22nd September. 2023
China, U.S. and India, top in emissions absent at Climate Ambition Summit
The Climate Ambition Summit, as part of the United Nations General Assembly, concluded on Thursday.
China, the U.S. and India– which collectively account for about 42% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are the top three emitters in that order– were all absent from the summit.
The aim of the summit was to showcase policies to keep the 1.5°C goal of Paris agreement alive and deliver climate justice. The speakers were to present updated pre-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions; updated net-zero targets; energy transition plans with commitments to no new coal, oil and gas; fossil fuel phase-out plans; more ambitious renewable energy targets; Green climate fund pledges; and economy-wide plans on adaptation and resilience.
India last updated its climate pledges in 2022 of reducing emissions intensity– or volume of emissions per unit of gross domestic product– by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 (a 10% increase from 2015).
The government committed to meet 50% of its electric power from renewable, non-fossil fuel energy sources.
It promised to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. India pledged to achieve net zero by 2070.