Experts have welcomed the move, describing it as a forward-looking intervention in water governance. Subrata Chakraborty, Director of the Water Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment, noted that the policy reflects a decisive shift in approach.......
Over ₹8300 crore spent and 37 STPs built, yet Yamuna remains India's most polluted river in Delhi. CSE report highlights poor infrastructure planning and...
As CSE Director General Sunita Narain observed at the release of the 2024 assessment: the EPR guidelines are "an important tool, but the operational loopholes and other concerns that have emerged can lead to questions about its integrity we must ensure that all this effort does not end up being a waste of time" (CSE, 2024).
According to estimates from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India could hit the 60% target as early as 2028. India has set a new target to reduce its “emissions intensity” – greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic output – to 47% below 2005 levels by 2035. The much-awaited announcement comes within India’s delayed new nationally determined contribution (NDC) for 2035 under the Paris Agreement, which had been due last year. The pledge, which has not yet been published by the UN, was approved by India’s cabinet and issued as a government press release on 25 March. The updated NDC from the world’s third-largest emitter lands amid the global energy crisis triggered by the Iran war, which has already led to Indians grappling with gas shortages. In its pledge, India has committed to non-fossil energy making up 60% of its installed electricity-generating capacity by 2035. The country has also announced an increase to its target for the amount of CO2 that will be absorbed by carbon sinks, such as forests – the first such rise since India made its first pledge to the Paris Agreement. Some climate experts in India have welcomed the new pledge, saying the country “is pulling more than its weight given its minimal historical contribution to emissions” and “despite recent geopolitical headwinds”. However, others point out that the targets “underestimate India’s potential” for clean-energy growth and “allow for an acceleration” of emissions, while “hiding” deforestation. Below, Carbon Brief outlines India’s new climate pledge for 2035 and its implications for the nation’s energy sector, emissions and adaptation efforts. This article will be updated once the full NDC has been formally published by the UN. What is in India’s updated climate pledge? What do India’s pledges mean for its energy sector? What do India’s pledges mean for its land sector? What are the political considerations behind India’s new climate pledge? How have India’s new pledges been received? What is in India’s updated climate pledge? The 1,200-word press release announcing the approval of India’s new NDC for 2035 is thin on detail. For example, it does not spell out any climate-finance needs for adaptation, mitigation or climate change-induced loss and damage. The details provided in the press release include three headline quantified targets for three areas: GDP emissions intensity “Non-fossil fuel” share of electricity generation Land and forestry First, India commits to cutting the “emissions intensity” of its GDP to 47% below 2005 levels by 2035, a small increase from the 45% target for 2030 set out in its previous pledge in 2022. Emissions intensity is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gas emitted for each unit of GDP, which means it applies to all sectors of the economy and covers all gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2). However, there is no globally agreed benchmark to measure this type of target. According to the Indian government’s fourth “biennial update report” submitted to the UN on 30 December 2024, India had already reduced its emissions intensity by 36% between 2005 and 2020. By setting an intensity target, India would be able to continue increasing its emissions as its economy grows, as Carbon Brief has previously explained. This target, therefore, depends on the size of India’s economy in 2035, as well as its total emissions. (Under the terms of the Paris Agreement and the first “global stocktake” agreed in 2023, only developed countries are expected to set “absolute” targets to cut their emissions. Developing countries are “encouraged” to move towards such targets “over time”.) The two-point increase in India’s intensity target, to 47% by 2035, “will not bring any real emission reductions, given India’s fast-growing GDP”, says a statement from climate research group Climate Action Tracker. It says this new goal is ‘unlikely to drive significantly more ambitious action”. India’s GDP is expected to grow by an average 6.1% per year out to 2035, which is “more than any other major country or region”, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Second, the country has pledged to raise the share of “non-fossil fuel-based energy resources in installed electric power capacity” to 60%. (India defines “non-fossil sources” as including large-scale hydropower, nuclear, bioenergy, solar and wind power.) The target is a 10-percentage point increase from the previous goal of “about 50%” by 2030. In July 2025, the Indian government announced that it had achieved this target, five years ahead of schedule. As of February 2026, non-fossil sources already made up 52.6% of installed capacity. The IEA estimates that India’s existing policies would be sufficient to achieve the newly targeted 60% share as early as 2030, reaching 70% by 2035. Third, the country has raised its land and forestry sector target for the first time since 2015. According to the press release description of the new pledge: “[India has] further enhanced the ambition of creating [a] carbon sink through forest and tree cover to 3.5-4.0bn tonnes of CO2-equivalent [GtCO2e] by 2035 from 2005 level[s].” However, the baseline from which India calculates its emissions reductions from forests was only clarified in 2024 and its metrics for measuring forest and tree cover remain controversial. (See: What does India’s pledge mean for its land sector?) Additionally, the target corresponds to a “business-as-usual scenario”, according to India’s own forest authorities, with no additional policies required to achieve it. Beyond the three quantitative headline goals, the NDC pledge also contains five qualitative targets. The government release says these are “intended to embed sustainability into everyday life and governance systems, promote climate-resilient development pathways and enable a just and inclusive transition for all sections of society”. They include a target to “mobilise domestic, and new and additional finance from developed countries”. Another qualitative target is a commitment to develop “resilient infrastructure” in order to “adapt to climate change in various sectors like agriculture, water resources, health, disaster management and fragile ecosystems”. The government release does not explicitly mention the 1.5C aspirational global warming limit agreed as part of the Paris Agreement, but it does “recogni[se] that climate change impacts are already being felt”. It also says the government has “placed strong emphasis on adaptation and disaster resilience across the key actors of its economy”. The release lists a range of adaptation actions and initiatives that the government is engaged in, from mangrove restoration to “heat action plans” and monitoring glacial lake outburst floods. However, it does not set any new adaptation goals. According to India’s national economic survey for 2025/26, adaptation and “resilience-related” domestic spending “surged” to 5.6% of the country’s GDP in 2022-23, from 3.7% in 2016-17, with 98% of adaptation finance sourced domestically. The Indian government says that the NDC “mark[s] a significant step towards the goal of achieving net-zero by 2070”, but does not offer further explanation. Additionally, it does not mention two targets announced by president Narendra Modi in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. These were to install 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and to reduce cumulative emissions between 2021-30 to 1bn tonnes of CO2 (GtCO2) below expected levels. However, the release does reiterate that the “achievement of our targets ahead of time…provides strong confidence in the country’s ability to deliver on future commitments”. The release also says that India has “considered” the outcomes of the first ”global stocktake” and the “need for greater ambition” in line with the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal in “shaping” India’s 2035 NDC. It adds that, when formulating the pledge, the government took into account the principles of equity and common, but differentiated responsibility, as well as development and energy security priorities. What does India’s pledge mean for its energy sector? India’s new target for non-fossil sources to make up 60% of installed electricity generating capacity builds on its 2022 NDC target to reach “about 50%” by 2030. Although not specified in the latest release, the previous goal was said to have been conditional on the availability of low-cost international finance. In July 2025, India announced that it had already achieved this 50% target, five years ahead of schedule. When this announcement was made in June last year, India’s installed non-fossil capacity comprised 38.1% renewables, 10.2% of large hydropower and 1.8% nuclear energy. In January 2026, India’s non-fossil installed capacity reached 50.6% and, per the announcement, had already reached 52.6% in February. Meeting the new 2035 target would, therefore, require only another 8 percentage-point increase in the non-fossil share of installed capacity over the next nine years. This is much less ambitious than India’s own national generation adequacy plan, published in March 2026, which says that non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity would reach “70% of the total installed capacity by 2035-36”. According to estimates from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India could hit the 60% target as early as 2028. Beyond the overall non-fossil capacity target, the NDC release does not include specific goals for domestic renewable generation or capacity installation. According to the Central Electricity Authority, renewable energy, including large hydropower, only accounted for 22.4% of total electricity generation – a far lower share than the installed capacity percentage. As of January 2026, coal-fired power still accounted for 69% of total generation. India is still planning to add approximately 56GW of new coal-fired power generation capacity by 2030, because of the expected growth in peak electricity demand. According to a report by government thinktank Niti Aayog, India’s coal consumption for all uses “could more than double by mid-century before plunging sharply”. On the other hand, research for Carbon Brief by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that electricity generation from coal in India fell by 3% year-on-year in 2025. It suggests that power-sector emissions could peak before 2030, if clean-energy capacity and electricity demand grow as expected. The analysis found that the fall in coal-fired power was partly a result of accelerated clean-energy growth, which played a significant role in driving down coal generation for the first time. Nevertheless, a range of challenges are holding back the growth of India’s grid-based solar power, according to a 2025 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), which points to issues including delays in power supply agreements and transmission challenges. Solar manufacturing has seen a “13-fold jump” that has outpaced domestic demand. In September, it was reported that India had 44GW of renewable energy “ready for deployment”, but challenges around secure long-term power contracts were holding back its deployment. Experts tell Carbon Brief that off-grid solar might absorb some of this glut, which could explain additional outlays for rooftop solar in India’s February budget. In 2025, India added 7.1GW of rooftop solar capacity, a 122% increase from the previous year. However, Reuters reports that this rooftop solar push “is falling short of targets despite heavy subsidies” because of poor financing and limited support from state utilities and vendors. The country is expanding its hydropower fleet in the high eastern Himalayan region – near a disputed border with China – despite biodiversity concerns, drought and flood impacts on dams and reservoirs. According to Down To Earth, the country is also “prioritising pumped hydropower storage projects over battery systems”, expecting to add around 50GW of such capacity by 2032. India is also looking to nuclear energy to serve as a steady source of power to complement variable renewable output. In December 2025, the government enacted a landmark new nuclear law, dubbed the “Shanti” act – an acronym for “sustainable harnessing and advancement of nuclear energy for transforming India”. It aims to help India increase its nuclear capacity more than tenfold, from 8GW in 2024 to 100GW by 2047. (India has some 6GW of nuclear capacity under construction.) However, given high costs, extended timescales and India’s long history of public protests against nuclear energy over safety and land-acquisition concerns, it remains to be seen how quickly this capacity can be ramped up. What does India’s pledge mean for its land sector? For the first time since issuing its first target in 2015, India has raised its land and forestry carbon-sink goal in its updated NDC. This target aims to create an additional annual carbon sink of 3.5GtCO2e through “additional tree and forest cover” by 2035, compared with 2005 levels. This is a 1GCO2e increase from its target for 2030, which was to sequester 2.5-3GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. This time, India finally spells out a clear 2005 baseline from which these targets are to be measured. According to the Forest Survey of India’s (FSI) last India state of forest report, the country had “already reached 2.29Gt of additional carbon sink” against its 2005 baseline in 2023. Dr Sharad Lele, professor of environmental policy and governance at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, tells Carbon Brief that the increase in India’s forest NDC target is “concerning” for several reasons. First among these, Lele says, is that the FSI’s official claim of sequestration so far “is based on shaky methods and non-transparent datasets”. He continues: “Second, the country continues to lose dense forests of high conservation and livelihood value to development projects while sequestration seems to be done through plantations. Third, and most important, carbon as well as conservation goals should not bypass the rights of Indigenous and local communities, [which] continues to result in both forest destruction and plantation happening in ways that disregard community concerns and priorities.”
Kenya is heading into a year of heightened climate uncertainty after experiencing one of its warmest years on record in 2025. The latest climate assessment by the Kenya Meteorological Department paints a concerning picture: rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and escalating risks to food security, public health, and livelihoods. The trends observed are not isolated anomalies but part of a long-term shift driven by climate change, with serious implications for the country’s future. A steady rise in temperatures Data shows that Kenya’s climate has been warming consistently over the past few decades. Since 1991, average temperatures have increased at a rate of about 0.22°C per decade, with the pace of warming accelerating after 2005. In 2025, the country recorded its seventh warmest year in 36 years, underlining the persistence of this upward trend. Temperatures remained above average throughout the year, including during typically cooler months. Early in the year, temperatures were already 0–1°C above normal, climbing further in subsequent months. Even the June–August season, usually marked by cooler weather, saw temperatures rise significantly above average. The situation peaked in December, which emerged as the hottest month of the year, with several regions experiencing intense heat. Such prolonged warming is altering seasonal cycles and increasing stress on ecosystems, water resources, and human populations. Erratic rainfall and agricultural stress Alongside rising temperatures, rainfall patterns in 2025 were highly uneven. While some regions, particularly the western and central highlands, received above-normal rainfall, large parts of the country—especially arid and semi-arid areas—faced drier-than-usual conditions. This imbalance had severe consequences for agriculture, a sector that underpins Kenya’s economy and food security. Staple crops such as maize and beans recorded production declines ranging between 21 and 35 per cent. Factors such as drought, pest infestations, high input costs, and unreliable rainfall compounded these losses. Flooding in certain regions further damaged crops and reduced yields, while pests and water shortages hit horticultural production, including tomatoes. Although some gains were seen in irrigated farming and drought-resistant crops like sorghum, these were not enough to offset broader losses. The result has been reduced food availability, shrinking reserves, and increased dependence on markets—leaving vulnerable communities exposed to price shocks. Rising health and environmental risks The impacts of extreme weather extended beyond agriculture, affecting public health and the environment. Kenya experienced multiple climate extremes in 2025, including heatwaves, cold spells, heavy rainfall events, and strong coastal winds. Flooding led to water contamination and displacement, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera. At the same time, prolonged dry conditions contributed to malnutrition and weakened water security. Climate-sensitive diseases like visceral leishmaniasis also became more widespread. Environmental pressures are also mounting. Increased heat and dryness raise the likelihood of forest fires and biodiversity loss, particularly in already fragile ecosystems. In pastoral regions, shrinking water availability is intensifying competition over resources, sometimes leading to conflict between communities and wildlife. A risky outlook for 2026 Looking ahead, forecasts for 2026 suggest that the challenges are far from over. The country is expected to experience above-average temperatures combined with uneven rainfall distribution. Some regions may see heavy rains, raising the risk of floods, landslides, and infrastructure damage, while others may continue to face drought conditions. There is also a 58–61 per cent probability of El Niño conditions developing later in the year, which could further intensify weather extremes. These conditions are likely to disrupt agriculture, strain water systems, and increase the frequency of disasters. Already, parts of western Kenya have experienced deadly floods, highlighting the urgency of preparedness and response measures. Urgent need for adaptation and investment To address these mounting challenges, significant investment is required. Estimates suggest that Kenya will need substantial financial resources in 2026 to support food aid, water infrastructure, healthcare, livestock systems, and agricultural inputs. Experts emphasise the importance of strengthening early warning systems, improving climate services, and investing in resilient infrastructure. In wetter regions, better flood management and disease monitoring are crucial, while in drier areas, strategies such as water harvesting, drought-resistant crops, and diversified livelihoods are essential. The broader message is clear: climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present reality reshaping Kenya’s economy and society. Without timely and sustained action, the risks—from food insecurity to health crises—are likely to intensify. As the country moves into an uncertain climatic future, building resilience will be key to safeguarding both people and ecosystems. References: https://meteo.go.ke/documents/3009/State_of_the_Climate_Report_2025.pdf https://www.downtoearth.org.in/africa/kenya-faces-hotter-riskier-year-after-one-of-its-warmest-years-in-2025
Uttar Pradesh has approved its Safe Reuse of Treated Water Policy, 2026. It aims for 50% treated wastewater reuse by 2030, reaching 100% by 2035, targeting sectors like agriculture and industry. The policy, supported by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), seeks to boost water security and economic growth in India's water sector. However, it faces common challenges, including regulatory fragmentation, funding issues for local governments, and operational difficulties seen in other states. Uttar Pradesh Approves Ambitious Treated Water Reuse Policy Uttar Pradesh's cabinet has approved the Safe Reuse of Treated Water Policy, 2026. The policy sets phased targets: 50% treated wastewater reuse by 2030, aiming for 100% by 2032 in areas with sewage treatment plants (STPs). Regions without STPs will target 30% reuse by 2030, rising to 100% by 2045. Supported by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), this policy treats wastewater as a resource, aiming to ease pressure on freshwater and reduce groundwater extraction for agriculture, industry, and construction. Infrastructure Growth Expected The policy's goals are expected to drive significant growth in India's water and wastewater treatment market, projected to reach USD 5.17 billion by 2031. The broader wastewater treatment sector could hit USD 19.4 billion by 2034. UP's policy, combined with national programs like Jal Jeevan Mission and Namami Gange, contributes to an estimated USD 35 billion opportunity in the treated used water sector by 2047. This investment could create over one lakh new jobs by 2047, particularly in operations and maintenance for STPs and related infrastructure. Companies like Va Tech Wabag Ltd., Enviro Infra Engineers Ltd., and Indian Hume Pipe Company Ltd. are set to gain. State Policies and National Challenges Many Indian states are also focusing on water reuse. Gujarat aims for 100% reuse by 2030, Maharashtra mandates industrial use, Tamil Nadu promotes it for industry and green projects, and Haryana prioritizes it for industry. However, national implementation faces significant challenges. Currently, only about 28% of India's sewage is treated, with just 3% reused. This shows a large gap between policy goals and actual practice. Experts cite issues like policy fragmentation (only 11 states have dedicated reuse policies), unclear standards, poor coordination between agencies, and funding problems for local governments. UP's policy success will depend on overcoming these common obstacles. Operational and Financial Hurdles Despite its forward-thinking nature, UP's policy faces execution risks. A key challenge is India's fragmented water management system, where multiple agencies share responsibility, often leading to poor coordination and enforcement. Local governments, especially in smaller cities, struggle with funding and the lack of clear pricing for treated water, which can make projects unviable. The large capital investment needed for infrastructure, estimated at USD 18-27 billion nationally by 2047, is another significant barrier. Public acceptance and the lack of standard quality rules for reused water could also slow adoption. The state's phased plan will require strong political commitment and project management to overcome these operational and financial difficulties, which have challenged other states. Outlook: Sector Growth Continues India's water sector is growing steadily due to urbanization, industrialization, and a greater focus on sustainability. Government funding, like the ₹35,189 crore allocated for water infrastructure in the 2025-26 budget, shows strong policy backing. Analysts expect further market expansion. If UP's policy overcomes its challenges, it could become a key model for investment and innovation in water management nationwide. Demand for advanced, efficient water solutions is expected to increase, creating opportunities for technology and infrastructure firms.
Avantika Goswami from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) remarked on India's leadership amid backtracking from developed countries. She noted, "The signal from India shows that Global South leadership on climate ambition is concrete and real," illustrating the importance of the developing world in tackling climate change. India has announced an ambitious goal to achieve 60% of its installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2035. This commitment is part of the country's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) ahead of its obligations under the Paris Agreement, which calls for a reduction in reliance on fossil fuels and enhanced energy efficiency measures. During a press briefing following a Cabinet meeting, Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed confidence in meeting these targets, stating, "We will easily achieve these goals… (with) the speed with which we are expanding our non-fossil sources." In addition to the 60% target for non-fossil power, the updated NDC outlines a plan to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 47% compared to 2005 levels. Furthermore, India aims to increase its carbon sink to between 3.5 billion and 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, strengthening its commitment to tackling climate change. India's updated NDC is set to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of the global effort to combat climate issues. The obligation to update NDCs is a requirement for signatories of the Paris Agreement, and in 2025, countries are expected to present their voluntary actions detailing how they intend to transition their economies. In a recent meeting in Belem, Brazil, at the 30th Conference of the Parties (CoP), Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav reiterated that India would announce its NDC by the end of the year. Notably, as of December 31, 2025, India and Argentina were the only two G-20 countries that had yet to unveil a 2035 NDC. As reported, 128 countries covering approximately 78% of global greenhouse gas emissions had submitted new NDCs by that date, showcasing a worldwide commitment to climate action. Many of these parties included Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, alongside several G-20 members. Under its current NDC, communicated to the United Nations in August 2022, India had set a target of obtaining 50% of its installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources, reducing emissions intensity per unit of GDP by 44%, and increasing its carbon sink to at least 2.5 billion tonnes to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030. At present, about 52% of India's installed electric capacity comes from non-fossil sources, a milestone achieved before the deadline. However, only around 25% of the total power generated is from these non-fossil sources, which include solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and nuclear energy. According to official estimates, India reported an emissions intensity reduction of 36% from 2005 to 2020. A significant carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent was achieved between 2005 and 2019. Nevertheless, forest and tree cover in India accounted for approximately 24.6% of the country's geographical area in 2021, an increase from the 21% noted in 2005, but still below the national objective of 33%. In shaping its NDC for the period from 2031 to 2035, the Indian government has taken into account the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST) and principles of 'Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities' (CBDR-RC). The aim is to align national realities with development priorities, energy security, and the urgent need for increased climate action. The GST, initiated in 2021, reviews the collective global progress toward limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It concluded that many nations are currently not on track to meet this critical target. Some independent analysts have indicated that while India appears likely to achieve its NDC targets for 2030, it may not be sufficient to maintain the global temperature increase within the desired range. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, a senior fellow at the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), highlighted that India's commitment to these targets contrasts sharply with a perceived rollback of climate policies in developed nations. He stated, "It demonstrates a strong resolve to address transmission and land availability constraints faced by the renewables sector." Avantika Goswami from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) remarked on India's leadership amid backtracking from developed countries. She noted, "The signal from India shows that Global South leadership on climate ambition is concrete and real," illustrating the importance of the developing world in tackling climate change.
देश में 9 महीने में एक्सट्रीम वेदर से 3,238 मौतें: MP में जानलेवा मौसम के दिन सबसे ज्यादा, UP-राजस्थान में फसलें सुरक्षित रहीं
“India’s new targets represent a commitment to climate multilateralism,” said Avantika Goswami, programme manager for climate change at the Centre for Science and Environment. To halve its emissions intensity and have more than half of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources within nine years “shows that India is pulling more than its weight given its minimal historical contribution to emissions,” she said. “At a time when developed countries are backtracking on ambition, deepening their fossil fuel entrenchment, and dragging the world towards military conflict, the signal from India shows that Global South leadership on climate ambition is concrete and real.”
Congestion as an Economic Variable: The survey also takes a scattered view of road congestion rather than treating it through a consolidated lens. Several studies, including the one by the Centre for Science and Environment, cite external empirical research to reveal that traffic congestion in Delhi, for example, results in a loss of income of INR 7,200 to INR 19,600 for unskilled workers, INR 8,300 to INR 23,800 for skilled workers, and INR 9,000 to INR 25,900 for highly skilled workers. The Institute for Social and Economic Change, on the other hand, estimates that late arrivals due to congestion cost Bengaluru 7.07 lakh lost productive hours in 2018, with a corresponding loss of INR 7 billion. Similarly, a 2018 estimate by Uber and the Boston Consulting Group puts the annual cost of congestion in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata at around US$22 billion.
Chief minister Rekha Gupta presented Delhi’s “first green budget” on Tuesday — earmarking Rs 22,236 crore or 21.4% of the total allocation — to address a plethora of environmental concerns, including air and water pollution, plaguing the city. “We are making Delhi a courtyard of greenery, not a concrete jungle. Every policy of this budget has been viewed through a green lens.Every policy incorporates environmental concerns, every scheme reflects nature, and every decision takes into account the welfare of future generations. This budget represents a historic shift in the approach of governance, where a balance has been struck between development and the protection of Mother Earth,” the CM said. get a total of Rs 2,392 crore for end-to-end recarpeting and redevelopment of roads to make them free of dust. Money will also be spent on strengthening public transport with a focus on electric mobility. The allocation to the environment and forest department has been increased by 62.7% — from Rs 505 crore in 2025-26 to Rs 822 crore in 2026-27. To ramp up Delhi’s green cover, Gupta said 35 lakh trees of native species like peepal, mango and neem — all ‘oxygen givers’ — will be planted in the next four years. Besides, Rs 130 crore has been allocated for forest development, Rs 44 crore for wildlife protection and Rs 25 crore for Delhi Parks and Garden Societies. An amount of Rs 200 crore has been kept for rejuvenation of the Yamuna and other water bodies. Solar panels will be used to cover drains so that no garbage can be dumped and energy is generated. A total of 1,500 tonnes of cow dung produced daily in the city will be processed for energy generation so that the dung does not enter the river through the drains. Gupta announced a carbon monetisation scheme and earmarked Rs 2 crore for Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to revamp its ‘war-room’, mobile app and real-time tracking mechanism. To reduce dust pollution, Rs 1,392 crore has been allotted for end-to-end recarpeting and redevelopment of 750-km roads under PWD. Similarly, Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for developing MCD roads. Besides, Rs 504 crore has been allocated for deployment of water sprinklers integrated with anti-smog guns, mechanical road sweeping machines and water tankers. The city’s waste-processing capacity is set to increase from 7,000 metric tonnes to 15,000 metric tonnes owing to a proposed expansion of waste-to-energy plants at Narela, Okhla, Ghazipur and Tehkhand, the CM said. To deal with vehicular pollution, Delhi govt has set a target of rolling out 12,000 electric buses by 2029. It has earmarked Rs 200 crore for Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0, including the setting up of charging infrastructure. With an aim of reducing traffic congestion, Rs 575 crore will be spent on completing eight pending flyovers and underpasses. The budget also has a provision for the expansion of Delhi Metro (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/dmrc) and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with allocation of Rs 2,885 crore and Rs 568 crore, respectively. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) of Centre for Science and Environment, said the budget delivers mixed signals. “Commendable investments in clean transit, charging infrastructure, and EV purchase-and-scrap schemes are undermined by contradictory spending on car-centric flyovers and underpasses that ignore last-mile transit accessibility. Furthermore, pollution efforts remain fixated on emergency dust control measures, while the EV Policy 2.0 lacks definitive zero-emission targets. Finally, while expanding waste processing and generation of gas hold potential, it must be strictly driven by 100% segregation at source. Scaling up incineration of unsegregated waste needs to be prevented to control toxic air emissions,” said Roychowdhury.
Chief minister Rekha Gupta presented Delhi’s “first green budget” on Tuesday — earmarking ₹22,236 crore or 21.4 per cent of the total allocation — to address a plethora of environmental concerns, including air and water pollution, plaguing the city. “We are making Delhi a courtyard of greenery, not a concrete jungle. Every policy of this budget has been viewed through a green lens. Every policy incorporates environmental concerns, every scheme reflects nature, and every decision takes into account the welfare of future generations. This budget represents a historic shift in the approach of governance, where a balance has been struck between development and the protection of Mother Earth,” the CM said. PWD and MCD will get a total of ₹2,392 crore for end-to-end recarpeting and redevelopment of roads to make them free of dust. Money will also be spent on strengthening public transport with a focus on electric mobility. The allocation to the environment and forest department has been increased by 62.7 per cent — from ₹505 crore in 2025-26 to ₹822 crore in 2026-27. To ramp up Delhi’s green cover, Gupta said 35 lakh trees of native species like peepal, mango and neem — all ‘oxygen givers’ — will be planted in the next four years. Besides, ₹130 crore has been allocated for forest development, ₹ 44 crore for wildlife protection and ₹25 crore for Delhi Parks and Garden Societies. An amount of ₹200 crore has been kept for rejuvenation of the Yamuna and other water bodies. Solar panels will be used to cover drains so that no garbage can be dumped and energy is generated. A total of 1,500 tonnes of cow dung produced daily in the city will be processed for energy generation so that the dung does not enter the river through the drains. Gupta announced a carbon monetisation scheme and earmarked ₹2 crore for Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to revamp its ‘war-room’, mobile app and real-time tracking mechanism. To reduce dust pollution, ₹1,392 crore has been allotted for end-to-end recarpeting and redevelopment of 750-km roads under PWD. Similarly, ₹1,000 crore has been set aside for developing MCD roads. Besides, ₹504 crore has been allocated for deployment of water sprinklers integrated with anti-smog guns, mechanical road sweeping machines and water tankers. The city’s waste-processing capacity is set to increase from 7,000 metric tonnes to 15,000 metric tonnes owing to a proposed expansion of waste-to-energy plants at Narela, Okhla, Ghazipur and Tehkhand, the CM said. To deal with vehicular pollution, Delhi govt has set a target of rolling out 12,000 electric buses by 2029. It has earmarked ₹200 crore for Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0, including the expansion of the charging infrastructure. With an aim of reducing traffic congestion, ₹575 crore will be spent on completing eight pending flyovers and underpasses. The budget also has a provision for the expansion of Delhi Metro and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with allocations of ₹2,885 crore and ₹568 crore, respectively. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) of Centre for Science and Environment, said the budget delivers mixed signals. “Commendable investments in clean transit, charging infrastructure and EV purchase-and-scrap schemes are undermined by contradictory spending on car-centric flyovers and underpasses that ignore last-mile transit accessibility. Furthermore, pollution efforts remain fixated on emergency dust control measures, while the EV Policy 2.0 lacks definitive zero-emission targets. Finally, while expanding waste processing and generation of gas hold potential, it must strictly be driven by 100 per cent segregation at source,” she said.
“At a time when developed countries are backtracking on ambition, deepening their fossil fuel entrenchment, and dragging the world towards military conflict, the signal from India shows that Global South (developing country) leadership on climate ambition is concrete and real,” Avantika Goswami, of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an influential think tank, said in a statement. Updating its climate goals, India has pledged that by 2035, 60% of its installed electric capacity will comprise of non-fossil sources. It also aims to reduce by 47% the intensity of emissions per unit of GDP from 2005 level and to increase its carbon sink to 3.5 billion tonnes - 4 billion tonnes. These targets make up its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which are to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “We will easily achieve these goals… (with) the speed with which we are expanding our non-fossil sources,” Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a briefing on Wednesday following a Cabinet meeting. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, India was required to issue an updated NDC in 2025, which spells out its voluntary actions towards transitioning away from fossil fuel and improving energy-efficiency measures. At the 30th edition of the Conference of Parties in Belem, Brazil, in November last year, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said that India would announce the NDC by the “year-end. The Conference of Parties, or CoP, is a body of nations that convenes annually to discuss climate issues and transition their economies away from fossil fuel. India and Argentina were the only two G-20 countries that had not announced a 2035 NDC as of December 31, 2025. A total of 128 parties, representing about 78% of global greenhouse gas emissions, had submitted new NDCs by that date. These included 21 Small Island Developing States, 19 Least Developed Countries, and 18 G-20 members. Current commitments India’s current NDC, officially conveyed to the United Nations in August 2022, commits to the following by 2030: having 50% of its installed electric power from non-fossil sources; reducing the intensity of emissions per unit of GDP by 44%; and increasing its carbon sink to at least 2.5 billion tonnes to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Currently, about 52% of India’s installed electric capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources — a target achieved well before the deadline — though only about 25% of the power generated is non-fossil. These sources include solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and nuclear power. As of 2019, say official estimates, India has achieved an emissions intensity of 36% from 2005-2020. A carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent had already been created from 2005 to 2019. However, forest and tree cover accounts for about 24.6% of India’s geographical area as of 2021, which is higher than the 21% in 2005, but still less than the national policy goal of 33%. “In shaping India’s NDC for 2031-2035, the government has considered the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST), principle of Common but differentiated responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), and equity with a view to harmonize national realities, developmental priorities, energy security and the need for greater ambition in climate action, in line with the purpose and long-term goals of the Paris Agreement,” the Environment Ministry said in a statement. Initiated in 2021, the GST assesses the world’s collective progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, concluding that nations are not on track. Several independent analysts have suggested that while India may meet its 2030 NDC targets, it isn’t enough to keep the globe on a 1.5C pathway. Independent analysts said India was picking up the slack for developed countries. India’s NDC target had come amid a “rollback of climate policies” and “unilateral trade measures” by developed, rich countries, Vaibhav Chaturvedi, senior fellow, Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), told The Hindu. “It demonstrates a strong resolve to address transmission and land availability constraints faced by the renewables sector. The 47% emissions intensity target shows that energy security and prices cannot be taken for granted.” “At a time when developed countries are backtracking on ambition, deepening their fossil fuel entrenchment, and dragging the world towards military conflict, the signal from India shows that Global South (developing country) leadership on climate ambition is concrete and real,” Avantika Goswami, of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an influential think tank, said in a statement.
Reactions from analysts were generally positive. Avantika Goswami, climate lead at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think-tank, said the new targets show “India is pulling more than its weight given its minimal historical contribution to emissions”, despite “backtracking” from developed countries.
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) of Centre for S ..
गंगा के जीर्णोद्धार में युवाओं और छात्रों की भागीदारी बढ़ाने के लिए विभिन्न विश्वविद्यालयों, कॉलेजों, प्रशिक्षण संस्थानों और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के साथ साझेदारी की गई है। संसद में गंगा नदी के संरक्षण और स्वच्छता को लेकर केंद्र सरकार की पहल की जानकारी साझा की गई। केंद्रीय जल शक्ति राज्य मंत्री राज भूषण चौधरी ने राज्यसभा सांसद इंदु बाला गोस्वामी को बताया कि नेशनल मिशन फॉर क्लीन गंगा के तहत “गंगा प्रहरी” कैडर का गठन किया गया है, जिसका उद्देश्य स्थानीय समुदाय और युवाओं को गंगा संरक्षण से जोड़ना है। उन्होंने कहा कि इस पहल के जरिए आम लोगों को गंगा की स्वच्छता और संरक्षण के प्रति जागरूक किया जा रहा है और उनकी सक्रिय भागीदारी सुनिश्चित की जा रही है। पिछले तीन वर्षों में विभिन्न जागरूकता अभियानों पर कुल 17.68 करोड़ रुपये खर्च किए गए हैं। मंत्री ने बताया कि मिशन के अंतर्गत गंगा तटों पर “गंगा उत्सव”, “स्वच्छता पखवाड़ा”, “घाट पर योग”, “विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस” और अन्य स्वच्छता अभियान नियमित रूप से आयोजित किए जा रहे हैं, ताकि जनभागीदारी को मजबूत किया जा सके। इसके अलावा, नेशनल मिशन फॉर क्लीन गंगा ने सीमा सुरक्षा बल के साथ समन्वय कर देवप्रयाग से गंगासागर तक ऑल वुमन रिवर राफ्टिंग अभियान भी आयोजित किया, जो महिला सशक्तिकरण और पर्यावरण जागरूकता का अनूठा उदाहरण है। गंगा के जीर्णोद्धार में युवाओं और छात्रों की भागीदारी बढ़ाने के लिए विभिन्न विश्वविद्यालयों, कॉलेजों, प्रशिक्षण संस्थानों और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के साथ साझेदारी की गई है। सरकार ने यह भी बताया कि गंगा से जुड़े स्थानीय मुद्दों के समाधान के लिए देश के उन 139 जिलों में “जिला गंगा समितियों” का गठन किया गया है, जहां से गंगा नदी गुजरती है। इस पहल का उद्देश्य गंगा को स्वच्छ, अविरल और संरक्षित बनाना है, जिसमें सरकार के साथ-साथ आम जनता की भागीदारी को भी अहम माना जा रहा