Rise in India’s Carbon Emissions
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: The Global Carbon Project’s 2025 assessment shows that India’s carbon emissions rose by only 1.4%, a sharp slowdown compared to 4% in 2024.
About Rise in India’s Carbon Emissions:
• What it is? India’s annual carbon emissions arise mainly from fossil fuel use—especially coal—making it the third-largest global emitter after China and the U.S.
• India’s annual carbon emissions arise mainly from fossil fuel use—especially coal—making it the third-largest global emitter after China and the U.S.
• Major Trends Highlighted in the Report:
• Slower Emission Growth in India: India’s carbon emissions rose only 1.4% in 2025, a sharp drop from 4% in 2024, driven by good monsoon conditions and faster renewable energy uptake. Global Emissions Still Rising: Worldwide fossil CO₂ emissions are projected to grow 1.1%, reaching 38 billion tonnes—pushing the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C dangerously close to exhaustion. China Shows Moderation: China’s emissions grew only 0.4%, supported by an unprecedented expansion of renewable energy capacity. Coal Dominance Continues: India’s emissions remain coal-heavy, while global emissions from coal (+0.8%), oil (+1%), and gas (+1.3%) continue to rise. Carbon Budget Nearly Exhausted: Only 170 billion tonnes of CO₂ remain for a 1.5°C pathway—equivalent to four years at current emission rates—making the target almost unattainable.
• Slower Emission Growth in India: India’s carbon emissions rose only 1.4% in 2025, a sharp drop from 4% in 2024, driven by good monsoon conditions and faster renewable energy uptake.
• Global Emissions Still Rising: Worldwide fossil CO₂ emissions are projected to grow 1.1%, reaching 38 billion tonnes—pushing the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C dangerously close to exhaustion.
• China Shows Moderation: China’s emissions grew only 0.4%, supported by an unprecedented expansion of renewable energy capacity.
• Coal Dominance Continues: India’s emissions remain coal-heavy, while global emissions from coal (+0.8%), oil (+1%), and gas (+1.3%) continue to rise.
• Carbon Budget Nearly Exhausted: Only 170 billion tonnes of CO₂ remain for a 1.5°C pathway—equivalent to four years at current emission rates—making the target almost unattainable.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 1: Climate change impacts, environmental geography, global warming trends.
• GS Paper 3: Environment, climate change, renewable energy, INDC targets, Paris Agreement commitments.
• GS Paper 2: International climate negotiations (COP30, carbon budget), India’s climate diplomacy.