• Focus Area Climate Change Policies and Governance Climate Change Policies and Governance
  • Type Discussion paper
  • Date 12 December 2018
Print

Abstract

As an emerging economy, a major part of India’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris  Agreement is an emissions intensity target. With its current policies, India is on track to achieve its climate targets under the Agreement. However, the Indian government is balancing a complicated set of domestic priorities and constraints against its wish to be seen as a global leader on climate change. This paper, based on field research in India, outlines the key findings from a set of interviews regarding the implementation and enhancement of India’s NDC:

  • Coal is still the cheapest source of baseload electricity in India and will continue to be its main fuel source for electricity.
  • India is constrained in its ability to prioritize climate change objectives by the need to expand energy access and for low-cost energy.
  • India would like to be seen as a leader on climate change, particularly when compared to other emerging economies such as China, whose targets are treated as a benchmark. This wish is balanced against its need to continue its economic expansion.
  • India tends to take a conservative approach to international commitments.
  • The Prime Minister of India has the final say on climate policy matters, but consults with and is advised by a small number of actors in his Council on Climate Change. Think tanks play a major supporting role in climate policymaking.

Authors

Yagyavalk Bhatt

Research Lead Yagyavalk Bhatt is an energy professional with more than seven years of experience in the transportation and electricity domain. Yagyavalk…

Yagyavalk Bhatt is an energy professional with more than seven years of experience in the transportation and electricity domain. Yagyavalk leads “The Role of Clean Energy Policies: Trends in India’s Transport Sector” project, aimed at estimating India’s transport energy demand and potential impact on crude oil supply chain.

His expertise covers energy policy, energy economics, transport modeling, the impact analysis of transport policies, emerging economies energy transition, renewable energy, and cost-benefit analysis of the transport and electricity sector. He has authored and contributed to numerous research papers and studies related to the transportation and electricity sector.

 

Expertise

  • Policy Analysis
  • Transport Demand Modeling
  • Sustainable Transport
  • Clean Energy Transition
  • Renewable Energy
  • Climate Change

Publications See all Yagyavalk Bhatt’s publications

AlJawhara Al Quayid

Senior Research Associate As a senior research associate in the Climate and Sustainability program, Aljawhara focuses on research and advisory projects that are… As a senior research associate in the Climate and Sustainability program, Aljawhara focuses on research and advisory projects that are centered around public policy, development, and sustainability. Aljawhara holds a master’s degree in policy management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Alfaisal University. She also holds a public leadership credential from the Harvard Kennedy School. During the Saudi G20 Presidency, Aljawhara coordinated one of the 11 Think 20 (T20) task forces that produced policy solutions to a wide range of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to joining KAPSARC, she interned at KPMG’s Deal Advisory unit, where she worked on developing public-private partnership models for public sector clients.  

Expertise

  • Public Policy
  • Development and Sustainability

Publications See all AlJawhara Al Quayid’s publications

Nourah Al Hosain

Research Associate Nourah is a research associate in the Transport and Infrastructure program. Her work focuses on geospatial analysis and modeling. Nourah…

Nourah is a research associate in the Transport and Infrastructure program. Her work focuses on geospatial analysis and modeling. Nourah was previously in KAPSARC’s Policy and Decision Science program, where she was part of the KAPSARC Toolkit for Behavioral Analysis (KTAB) development team. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Prince Sultan University.

Expertise

  • Policy Analysis
  • Sustainable Cities and Geospatial Analysis and Modeling

Publications See all Nourah Al Hosain’s publications

Paul Mollet

Paul Mollet

Research Fellow Paul was a research fellow in the Policy and Decision Sciences program. He is a former journalist and energy market… Paul was a research fellow in the Policy and Decision Sciences program. He is a former journalist and energy market analyst with over 25 years of experience in international energy markets. He opened the first Gulf Cooperation Council bureau for the oil price reporting agency S&P Global Platts in Dubai in 1989 and later launched the first regional office for Argus Media. Paul has attended numerous OPEC meetings and written extensively about the oil industry in publications such as Platts Oilgram News, Argus Global Markets, and the Petroleum Economist. He was also the senior advisor to the Secretary-General at the World Energy Council (WEC).    

Share this Publication

Stay informed

 I'm interested in

Select the updates you'd like to receive from us

About

A bit about you