Strengthening India's Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Exam-Focused Notes on Greenhouse Gas Inventory Workshop

Event Overview:

• Organizers: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Duration: Three-day workshop held from May 20 to 22, 2026.
• Location: CSIR-IIP, Dehradun.

Purpose:

• To strengthen India's National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory System and improve carbon emission accounting.
• Contribute actively to global climate action in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Key Highlights:

• India presented its first biennial transparency report to UNFCCC, marking a significant step in climate transparency.
• Discussions focused on GHG accounting in the Energy and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sectors.

Participants:

• Experts from various organizations including:
  • CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR)
  • Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI)
  • Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
  • IIT-Indian School of Mines (ISM, Dhanbad)
  • National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
  • Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE)
  • Jadavpur University.

Sessions and Discussions:

• Emphasis on the importance of sustainable technologies for emission accounting and mitigation.
• Key sessions led by:
  • Dr. Harendra Singh Bisht (Director, CSIR-IIP)
  • Sharat Kumar Pallerla (Advisor, MoEFCC)
  • Ajay Raghava (Additional Director, MoEFCC)
  • Professor Amit Garg (IIM Ahmedabad)
  • Dr. Sunil Kumar Pathak (Chief Scientist, CSIR-IIP).

Topics Covered:

• Reporting on GHG emissions and climate action monitoring tools as mandated by UNFCCC.
• Challenges in preparing GHG inventories and enhancing transparency frameworks.
• Technical sessions on developing country-specific emission factors for India.
• Focus on major emission categories including iron and steel, road transport, and uncontrolled emissions.

Government Targets and Plans:

• India aims to submit its second biennial transparency report by the end of 2026 and the third by 2028.
• Discussion on the role of ethanol blending in transport fuels and its impact on reducing fuel imports in alignment with India's vision for developed status by 2047.

Conclusion:

• The workshop concluded with the inauguration of a newly created selfie point at CSIR-IIP, promoting engagement and awareness of climate initiatives.

Constitutional and Policy References:

• The workshop aligns with India's commitments under international treaties like the UNFCCC, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in environmental governance.

Key Takeaways:

• Strengthening India's GHG inventory is crucial for effective climate action.
• Collaboration between various stakeholders is essential for tackling climate change challenges.
• Continuous improvement of emission accounting systems is necessary for meeting international obligations and national goals.