Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Net-Zero Emissions
"A state in which greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere are balanced by equivalent removals"
Net-zero emissions refers to achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed — through natural sinks (forests, oceans) or technological carbon capture. It does not mean zero emissions but a carbon-neutral state where remaining emissions are offset. The IPCC defines global net-zero CO₂ as requiring emissions reductions of ~45% by 2030 (vs 2010) and reaching net-zero around 2050 to limit warming to 1.5°C.
India has committed to Net-Zero by 2070 (announced by PM Modi at COP26, Glasgow, 2021 — part of India's Panchamrit/Five-Point Climate Pledge). UPSC tests this in GS3 (environment) and current affairs. Distinguish from: Carbon Neutral (individual/corporate), Climate Neutral (includes all GHGs + other impacts), and Deep Decarbonisation (structural economic transformation).
- 1 India's net-zero target year is 2070 — later than China (2060), USA/EU (2050)
- 2 India's Panchamrit pledge (COP26): 500 GW non-fossil fuel by 2030; 50% energy from renewables; reduce emissions intensity 45% vs 2005; net-zero by 2070
- 3 Hard-to-abate sectors (cement, steel, aviation, shipping) require CCUS technology — Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 20,000 crore for CCUS
- 4 Carbon sinks: India's forests offset ~2.29 billion tCO₂ annually (Economic Survey 2024-25)
- 5 IPCC AR6 (2022): Current NDCs lead to ~2.5°C warming — net-zero pledges insufficient without stronger near-term action
- 6 COP29 (Baku, Nov 2024): NCQG — New Collective Quantified Goal — agreed at USD 300 billion/year from developed nations by 2035 [Source: UN / COP29 outcome]
- 7 COP30 (Belém, Brazil, Nov 2025): Belém Package approved — climate finance implementation work programme; fossil fuel transition planning pledge; India's updated NDCs discussed [Source: UNFCCC / Carbon Brief, Nov 2025]
- 8 India milestone: 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels achieved in June 2025 — 5 years ahead of 2030 NDC target [Source: MNRE / PIB, PRID 2144627]
- 9 India non-fossil installed capacity (Mar 31, 2026): 283.46 GW — Solar 150.26 GW, Wind 56.09 GW, Large Hydro 51.41 GW, Nuclear 8.78 GW, Bio Energy 11.75 GW, Small Hydro 5.17 GW [Source: MNRE / PIB, Apr 2026]
- 10 FY 2025-26: India added 55.3 GW of non-fossil capacity — highest annual addition ever [Source: Enerdata / PIB, Apr 2026]
India crossed the 50% non-fossil electricity capacity milestone in June 2025 — five years ahead of the 2030 NDC target — reaching 283.46 GW of non-fossil installed capacity by March 31, 2026, with solar (150.26 GW) as the dominant source. FY 2025-26 saw a record 55.3 GW added, demonstrating credible near-term progress toward the 2070 net-zero pathway.
