Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
GHG emissions in India - Statistics & Facts
A rising population, rapidly growing economy, and increased energy demand have seen India’s emissions soar in recent decades. The world’s most populous country now emits around four billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) every year, making it the third-largest contributor to global GHG emissions. With energy demand set to grow even further, India is now projected to overtake the U.S. as the second-biggest emitter by 2035. Having committed to achieving net zero by 2070, India must now advance its clean energy transition and curb emissions while pursuing economic growth. But this will not be without its challenges.
Similar to the growth in overall emissions, the average person in India's carbon footprint has increased by some 60 percent since 1990 to reach 2.9 tCO₂e in 2023. Despite this significant increase, India’s per capita GHG emissions are less than half the global average. The gap is even larger when looking at the world's top emissions producers, with the average American's carbon footprint more than five times that of an Indian.
Financial constraints are another big challenge to overcome on India’s path to net-zero, with investments in clean energy technologies needing to triple by 2030 relative to 2024 levels. To bridge this gap, India is pushing for increased climate finance from developed countries — which currently lags — owing to its relatively low contribution to historical emissions and global warming.
India is taking the climate crisis seriously and is rapidly advancing its clean energy transition. But with numerous hurdles to overcome in balancing development needs with environmental concerns, India’s decisions moving forward will be key to hitting global climate change targets.
India's GHG emissions surge
India’s GHG emissions grew by 6.1 percent in 2023 to reach a new high of 4.2 GtCO₂e. Since the turn of the century, India’s annual emissions have now more than doubled. The South Asian country has undergone rapid development in recent decades that has largely been fueled by coal, which is the most polluting of fossil fuels and India’s primary energy source for power generation. In 2023, emissions from Indian coal-fired power plants, such as the JSW Vijayanagar Power Station, totaled 1.3 GtCO₂e. This accounted for one-third of the country’s total emissions that year, making the power sector India’s largest source of emissions.Similar to the growth in overall emissions, the average person in India's carbon footprint has increased by some 60 percent since 1990 to reach 2.9 tCO₂e in 2023. Despite this significant increase, India’s per capita GHG emissions are less than half the global average. The gap is even larger when looking at the world's top emissions producers, with the average American's carbon footprint more than five times that of an Indian.
Path to Net-Zero
India has committed to various targets as it works toward tackling climate change. These include reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by at least 45 percent by 2030 compared with 2005 levels, meeting at least 50 percent of its installed electricity capacity through non-fossil-fuel-based energy sources by 2030, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. The country’s energy transition has made considerable headway recently, with India well on its way to achieving its renewable capacity target. But despite its progress and commitment to clean energy, India’s ambitious climate goals are being undermined by its continued dependence on coal.Financial constraints are another big challenge to overcome on India’s path to net-zero, with investments in clean energy technologies needing to triple by 2030 relative to 2024 levels. To bridge this gap, India is pushing for increased climate finance from developed countries — which currently lags — owing to its relatively low contribution to historical emissions and global warming.
India is taking the climate crisis seriously and is rapidly advancing its clean energy transition. But with numerous hurdles to overcome in balancing development needs with environmental concerns, India’s decisions moving forward will be key to hitting global climate change targets.
