Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022 ?

Intensity and clean power

India pledged a 33-35% cut in emission intensity and 40% non-fossil power capacity by 2030; intensity fell about 36% by 2020 (Fourth Biennial Update Report) and the 40% mark was crossed in 2021.

Gaps

The 2.5-3 billion tonne sink target stands at about 2.29 billion tonnes (India State of Forest Report 2023), and promised finance arrived late.

Panchamrit

500 GW non-fossil capacity, 50% of energy from renewables, a one-billion-tonne cut in projected emissions, a 45% intensity cut, all by 2030, and net zero by 2070.

Diplomacy

India introduced LiFE and shaped the "phase down" of unabated coal in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Formal targets

The August 2022 update wrote the 45% intensity cut and about 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030 into the NDC, and added LiFE.

Domestic goals

The 500 GW and net-zero pledges stayed outside the NDC, the latter set out in the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (2022); the 50% capacity goal was met in 2025.

Next NDC

Add sectoral targets for steel, cement and transport in the 2035 NDC.

Finance and storage

Secure the COP29 $300 billion goal as grants and build grid storage.