{"id":68311,"date":"2025-10-12T11:26:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T05:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=68311"},"modified":"2025-10-13T11:25:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T05:55:52","slug":"greenhouse-gas-emission-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/greenhouse-gas-emission-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Target Rules &#8211; Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Greenhouse Gas Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Government of India has notified the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025, setting legally binding emission reduction targets for four key industrial sectors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>About the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a landmark move toward enforcing India\u2019s climate commitments, the <\/span><b>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has notified the <\/span><b>Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This sets the country\u2019s <\/span><b>first legally binding emission reduction targets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for four major industries: <\/span><b>cement, aluminium, pulp &amp; paper, and chlor-alkali<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These Rules are a critical step toward operationalising the <\/span><b>Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which established India\u2019s domestic carbon market.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative supports India\u2019s larger pledge to <\/span><b>reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, compared to 2005 levels, under the <\/span><b>Paris Climate Agreement (2015)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Coverage and Scope of the GEI Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The notified Rules apply to <\/span><b>282 high-emission industrial units<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across the country, broken down as follows:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>186 cement units<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>13 aluminium units<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>30 chlor-alkali units<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>53 pulp and paper units<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each unit is assigned specific emission reduction targets for <\/span><b>two compliance periods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>2025-26 and 2026-27<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The emission intensity, or <\/span><b>GEI<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, measures the <\/span><b>amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of production output<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, expressed in <\/span><b>tonnes of CO\u2082 equivalent (tCO\u2082e)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per tonne of product (for example, per tonne of cement or aluminium).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing Agency: <\/span><b>Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Linking GEI Targets with the Carbon Credit Market<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GEI Rules create a direct link between <\/span><b>industrial emission performance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>carbon market participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Compliant Units:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Industries that meet or exceed their emission intensity targets will earn <\/span><b>carbon credits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which they can trade in the <\/span><b>domestic carbon market<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for monetary value.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Non-Compliant Units:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Those that fail to meet their targets must either <\/span><b>purchase credits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the market to offset their shortfall or <\/span><b>pay environmental compensation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, enforced by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/central-pollution-control-board\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Central Pollution Control Board<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This mechanism encourages companies to <\/span><b>invest in cleaner technologies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>energy-efficient production systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, transforming emission reduction into an economic opportunity rather than a regulatory burden.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Targets and Sectoral Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GEI targets require industries to progressively reduce emissions intensity as follows:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>2025-26:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2-3% average reduction<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>2026-27:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Up to 7.5% reduction compared to baseline levels<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sector-specific goals include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Cement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reduction between <\/span><b>4.7% and 7.6%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> depending on the type of cement (e.g., Ordinary Portland Cement).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Pulp and Paper:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Reduction targets as high as <\/span><b>15%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over two years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Aluminium and Chlor-Alkali:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Moderate but steady reduction requirements to ensure process efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Transition from PAT to CCTS Framework<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), India introduced the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/what-is-perform-achieve-trade-pat-scheme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Perform, Achieve, Trade (PAT) scheme<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the <\/span><b>National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2012.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The PAT mechanism allowed energy-intensive industries to improve efficiency and trade \u201cenergy saving certificates.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the <\/span><b>PAT scheme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lacked a <\/span><b>carbon market component<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, focusing solely on energy savings.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>CCTS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, by contrast, incorporates a <\/span><b>market-based carbon trading system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, aligning India\u2019s domestic framework with global carbon markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Importance of the GEI Rules for India\u2019s Climate Commitments<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Operationalising the Domestic Carbon Market<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The GEI Rules are the <\/span><b>first practical step<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in establishing India\u2019s carbon trading system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supporting Net-Zero Transition<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s target of achieving <\/span><b>net-zero emissions by 2070<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> relies heavily on emission reductions from industrial sectors.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encouraging Technological Innovation<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By monetising efficiency improvements, the framework incentivises the <\/span><b>adoption of green manufacturing technologies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>renewable energy integration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>carbon capture solutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aligning with Global Best Practices<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The model mirrors frameworks in the <\/span><b>EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>China\u2019s national carbon market<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, positioning India as a future leader in <\/span><b>Asia\u2019s carbon economy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Driving Accountability and Enforcement<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the first time, emission intensity reduction targets are <\/span><b>legally binding<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Non-compliance will trigger <\/span><b>penalties and compensation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, introducing stronger environmental governance in India\u2019s industrial ecosystem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Challenges in Implementation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Accurate Measurement and Reporting:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Industrial units will need robust systems to monitor and verify emissions data.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Capacity Gaps:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Smaller industries may lack the technical or financial capacity to comply immediately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Market Liquidity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The success of the carbon credit trading mechanism depends on sufficient market participation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Regulatory Coordination:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Effective collaboration between <\/span><b>BEE, CPCB, and MoEFCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential for smooth enforcement.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To address these concerns, the government plans to expand the CCTS to include <\/span><b>more sectors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, strengthen <\/span><b>monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> protocols, and promote <\/span><b>digital carbon registries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for transparent trading.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source :<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/centre-notifies-first-legally-binding-emission-targets-for-high-polluting-sectors-10299043\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I<strong>E<\/strong><\/span><\/a><strong> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/india-notifies-first-emission-intensity-targets-for-carbon-intensive-sectors\/article70147013.ece#:~:text=greenhouse%20gases%20emission-,According%20to%20the%20notification%2C%20each%20facility%20must%20reduce%20the%20amount,and%20continues%20through%202026%2D27.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Union Government has introduced the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025, for four key sectors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":68437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[3203,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-68311","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-greenhouse-gas","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}