India recorded the world’s largest annual increase in greenhouse gas emissions last year, according to the United Nations Emissions Gap Report 2025 released last week.
The report found that India added 165 million tonnes of GHGs, followed by China and Russia. Together, G20 nations, including India, China and Indonesia, accounted for 77% of global emissions in 2024, with most members, except the European Union, registering an increase. The findings have placed India under the global spotlight at COP30 in Brazil, as the world calls for stronger climate action.
However, experts say the numbers do not tell the full story. “India is a developing economy, and our energy demand is increasing. Hence, our emissions will grow. However, in per capita emission terms, India remains one of the lowest emitters globally,” said Srinivas Krishnaswamy, CEO of the Vasudha Foundation. He noted that per capita emissions in the United States, China, Russia, and even the European Union far exceed the global mean of 6.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
Dr Manish Kumar Shrivastava, Associate Director at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), agreed that the UNEP data needs context. “Around 53% percent of the global increase in emissions is from land use change and forestry (LULUCF). This should have been assigned country-wise, but it isn’t, which distorts the picture,” he said. “With LULUCF, India’s emissions are much lower. Even excluding LULUCF, India’s emissions increase aligns with commitments and expected lines. India already achieved its initial 2030 targets and is leading the renewable transition, especially solar.”
India’s renewable achievements back that claim. A Press Information Bureau report states that as of 30 September 2025, India’s total installed electricity capacity reached 500.89 GW — surpassing the 500 GW mark. With over half of this from non-fossil fuel sources, India has already achieved one of its major COP26 Panchamrit goals — to have 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 — five years ahead of schedule.
Still, the installed capacity figures can be misleading. Srinivas adds, “Renewables have a much lower capacity utilisation as compared to coal — for example, renewables operate at about 18–30% capacity, whereas coal has an 80–90% plant load factor. So effectively, you need roughly four times the installed renewable capacity to match coal’s electricity generation,” he said.
Therefore, with growing electricity demand, we would still need coal in the mix. Manish adds, “The shift towards renewables has begun in India, but it is still some time till it surpasses coal-based generation. Rapid reduction in coal is possible once green hydrogen gets deployed at scale.”
At COP30, India reiterated that developed countries must accelerate emissions cuts and fulfil their promises. As New Delhi eyes a presidency in 2028, its message remains clear: the next decade must focus not just on targets but on implementation, resilience, and shared responsibility based on mutual trust and fairness.
