India’s 4th Biennial Report to UNFCCC Submitted

India submitted its 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 30th December, 2024. This report builds upon the Third National Communication (TNC) and provides a comprehensive update on India’s National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for the year 2020. It also includes critical information on national circumstances, mitigation actions, and the associated finance, technology, and capacity-building needs.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India’s leadership in sustainablea growth, emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to balancing economic progress with meaningful climate action.

Key Highlights of BUR-4 Report

1. GHG Inventory for 2020

• Total GHG emissions in 2020,
• Without LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry): 2,959 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).
• With LULUCF: 2,437 million tonnes of CO₂e.
• Reduction In Emissions: A 7.93% decrease in total GHG emissions compared to 2019.

2. Sectoral Contributions to Emissions

• Energy sector: 75.66% of total emissions.
• Agriculture: 13.72%.
• Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU): 8.06%.
• Waste: 2.56%.

3. Forest and Tree Cover Contributions

• Forests and tree cover sequestered 522 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2020, reducing 22% of total CO₂ emissions.
• India’s forest and tree cover stands at 25.17% of the total geographical area.

Achievements in NDC’s Targets

1. Decoupling Economic Growth Emissions

• Between 2005 and 2020, India’s emission intensity of GDP reduced by 36%, exceeding its target of 33-35%.

2. Renewable Energy Progress

• By October 2024, the share of non-fossil sources in installed electricity generation capacity reached 46.52%.
• Renewable power capacity (excluding large hydro): 156.25 GW (4.5 times increase from 35 GW in March 2014).
• Total installed renewable capacity (including large hydro): 203.22 GW.

3. Additional Carbon Sink

• Between 2005 and 2021, India created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover.

Commitment to Climate Action

• Despite contributing minimally to historical and current global emissions, India remains proactive in combating climate change, aligning with the principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), as stated in the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	India’s 4th Biennial Report to UNFCCC Submitted
GHG Emissions (2020)	2,959 Mt CO₂e (without LULUCF), 2,437 Mt CO₂e (with LULUCF)
Emission Reduction	7.93% decrease compared to 2019
Major Contributors	Energy (75.66%), Agriculture (13.72%), IPPU (8.06%), Waste (2.56%)
Forest CO₂ Sequestration	522 Mt CO₂, reducing 22% of total CO₂ emissions
NDC Target Achievements	– 36% reduction in GDP emission intensity (2005-2020) – Non-fossil sources: 46.52% of installed capacity (Oct 2024) – Renewable power capacity: 156.25 GW (4.5x increase since 2014)
Forest and Tree Cover	25.17% of India’s total geographical area
Additional Carbon Sink	2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (2005-2021)
India’s Commitment	Proactive climate actions under CBDR-RC principles