Green Growth

Notes

Green growth is economic growth that is environmentally sustainable: it conserves natural assets and cuts emissions and pollution while creating jobs and prosperity. It is linked to sustainable development (Brundtland Report, 1987: meeting present needs without compromising future generations), the green economy (UNEP: low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive), decoupling growth from emissions, the circular economy and the Environmental Kuznets Curve. Green GDP adjusts GDP for environmental costs.

India's climate commitments

Paris Agreement (2015): updated NDC (2022): cut the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from the 2005 level) and have 50% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 (reported to have been reached early, in 2025).
COP26 (Glasgow, 2021): the "Panchamrit": 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, 50% of energy from renewables, a one-billion-tonne cut in projected emissions, and net zero by 2070.

Initiatives

National Solar Mission (2010); the International Solar Alliance (2015; headquartered in Gurugram); PM-KUSUM; PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (2024) (rooftop solar).
National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023), ethanol blending (20% target), FAME and PLI for solar modules and batteries, Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT), the Indian Carbon Market and Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (2023), the Green Credit Programme (2023) and Sovereign Green Bonds (2023).
Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment, 2022), Namami Gange, afforestation (CAMPA), and green budgeting.

Challenges: dependence on coal (about 70% of electricity generation), the high cost of climate finance and technology, grid integration and storage, land for renewables, a just transition for coal workers, and trade measures such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). India argues for common but differentiated responsibilities and climate finance from developed countries.

Key Points

Green growth: growth that is environmentally sustainable; linked to sustainable development.
India's NDC: 45% emission intensity cut and 50% non-fossil capacity by 2030; net zero by 2070.
Initiatives: ISA, Green Hydrogen Mission, PM Surya Ghar, carbon market, green bonds.
Challenges: coal dependence, finance, storage, CBAM.
Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles.

MCQs

Q2. The International Solar Alliance is headquartered in: (a) Paris (b) New Delhi (c) Gurugram (d) Mumbai Ans: (c).

Q3. The Brundtland Report (1987) is associated with: (a) Sustainable development (b) Green Revolution (c) Carbon trading (d) Ozone protection Ans: (a).