Tracking India’s rise as global torch bearer for environment & biodiversity in the past 9 years.

Over the past nine years, India has emerged as a global torchbearer for environment and biodiversity conservation. Under the leadership of the present Indian government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several significant initiatives have been undertaken to address environmental challenges, promote sustainability, and protect the country’s rich biodiversity. This remarkable transformation stands in stark contrast to the below average performance of India in this area before 2014.

Before 2014, India faced numerous environmental and biodiversity-related challenges with lack of effective policies that had led to significant environmental degradation. Air and water pollution were rampant, deforestation was widespread, and endangered species were facing severe threats. India’s international reputation on environmental issues was marred by its high carbon emissions and inadequate efforts to mitigate climate change.

International Solar Alliance:

However, the scenario began to change after 2014 when the Indian government launched several ambitious programs and initiatives to prioritize environmental conservation and sustainability. One of the most notable achievements is the International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched in 2015, which aims to mobilise USD 1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030 while delivering energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions and resulting in the installation of 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity. This would help mitigate global solar emissions to the tune of 1,000 million tonnes of CO2 every year.

Renewable Energy Installation:

India’s efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity have been commendable. The country has witnessed a tremendous surge in renewable energy installations, particularly solar and wind power i.e. 24x and 18x increase respectively since 2014. As of 2023, India has become the fourth-largest country in the world in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. It has set a target of achieving 450 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, which demonstrates its commitment to transitioning towards a greener and sustainable energy future.

Countering Air Pollution:

Additionally, the Indian government has taken significant steps to address air pollution, particularly in urban areas. The introduction of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) in 2019, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution by 20-30% by 2024, highlights the government’s commitment to improving air quality. This is India’s first national policy to curb air pollution due to which air quality has improved in only 49 out of 131 cities in FY 21-22, compared to the previous year.

The PM Ujjwala scheme has resulted in significant increase in the number of LPG users in the past 9 years i.e. whooping 31.36 crores in 2023 from just 14.52 crores in 2016. It has resulted in 13% reduction in deaths due to air pollution. This has largely played a vital role in decreasing the air pollution as well as reduced the consumption of wood and so cutting down of trees largely.

Preserving Biodiversity & Wildlife

India’s efforts to preserve biodiversity have also been noteworthy. The country has significantly expanded its protected area network from 4.90% to 5.03% of the country’s total geographical area, with the inclusion of new national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The forest and tree cover has increased by 16000 square kilometres over the past four years. The community reserves have increased from just 43 in 2014 to over 100 in 2019. Eco-bridges and viaducts are constructed to avoid highway passing through the forest areas providing safe passages for the wildlife species along with infrastructural development. There has been a significant increase in the number of tigers, lions and leopards from 2226, 593 & 7910 in 2014 to 3167, 674 and 12852 in 2022 respectively.

Protecting Rivers:

The Indian government has also launched initiatives like the Green India Mission and the National Mission for Clean Ganga, which aim to restore and rejuvenate degraded ecosystems, conserve forests, and protect river systems. 48 sewage management projects are under implementation and 99 sewage projects have been completed. cadre of volunteers (Ganga Praharis) have been developed and trained to support conservation actions in the field, floating interpretation centre “Ganga Tarini” and interpretation centre “Ganga Darpan” have been established for developing awareness on biodiversity conservation and Ganga rejuvenation, key ecosystem services of Ganga river have been identified and an assessment framework developed to strengthen the environmental services in the river basin.

Energy Efficiency:

The Ujala scheme launched in 2015 transformed India’s approach in the field of being energy efficient. It was the world’s largest zero subsidy domestic lighting program under which 36.78 crore LED bulbs have been distributed across the country which saved 48 B kWh energy every year. Due to this scheme, 9,565 MW of peak demand has been avoided and along with that, it has resulted in reducing 3,86 crore tonnes of CO2 emissions.

FAME has been the masterstroke by the Government of India in promoting E-vehicles across the country due to which over 55.5 million litres of fuel have been saved so far and over 138.3 million kilos of carbon dioxide emissions have been avoided since the implementation of this program.

Sanitation:

Under the Swachh Bharat mission led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over 11 crore toilets were constructed post 2014 and on 2nd October 2019, all the villages across all the states and union territories in India were declared open defecation free. This has been a major leap in changing the scenario in this sector.

At Global Platforms:

Furthermore, India has made significant strides in international environmental diplomacy. Prime Minister Modi’s 5 promises ‘Panchamrut’ at COP26 committed in Glasgow and their implementation in the country have been highly acknowledged globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been awarded with UN’s highest environmental honour – Champions of the Earth Award in 2018. Apart from that, in 2019 India also set up a solar roof project at UN headquarters.

In conclusion, India’s rise as a global torchbearer for environment and biodiversity conservation in the past nine years has been remarkable. The government’s proactive measures to tackle environmental challenges, promote renewable energy, address air pollution, and protect biodiversity have earned international recognition. While challenges remain, India’s commitment to sustainable development and its proactive approach make it a promising player in global efforts to combat climate change and preserve the planet’s biodiversity during its Amrit Kaal.