New Delhi

On Thursday, Congress MP Manish Tewari raised concerns in the Lok Sabha about carbon emissions and global warming, referring to the 1992 Earth Summit’s agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. He highlighted that the Economic Survey also discussed this 1.5-degree target and asked if the government supported this view.

In response, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assured that the government is actively pursuing its climate goals and has achieved its emission reduction targets ahead of schedule. Khattar stated that the original goal was to cut emissions by 30-35 percent, but this target was reached early. He added that by 2030, the government aims to achieve a further 40-45 percent reduction.

Khattar explained that carbon emission targets are set annually for different sectors and industries, encouraging competition. Achieving these targets earns entities a carbon certificate. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla praised India’s achievement of meeting these targets ahead of time.

The government plans to introduce a carbon credit trading scheme by 2026, where adherence to emission norms will be rewarded with carbon credits. Each credit represents the reduction or avoidance of one ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent greenhouse gas, which can be sold to organizations seeking to offset their emissions.