Carbon Emission

India aims for carbon neutrality by 2070 but faces a $4.1 trillion investment challenge over the next two decades. This needn't be an uphill battle if we do what’s needed for patient capital to play a major role. Let’s get risk-return equations right across a wide spectrum of appetites.

An IiAS Sustain report reveals that while almost half of the top 500 companies have climate targets, many lack clear execution plans, realistic timelines, and tangible evidence of commitment.

Factory emissions need to be slashed. This is no longer just an environmental but a business imperative. Globally, administrations, investors and consumers are beginning to punish companies that fail to decarbonize their core operations.

India’s new climate targets as outlined in its latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) lay out a transition path that does not impinge on its growth imperative. It’s a model for other nations that bear common but differentiated responsibilities under the Paris pact.

India's reset of its climate goals shows a relatively modest reduction being aimed for in the emissions intensity of its GDP. How come? Is this process getting harder—or should we pin it on a trade-off between economic growth and carbon compression?

Our farmers and small firms must seize new EU export openings, but lower tariffs alone won’t do the job. Meeting Europe’s tough green, safety and labour standards will demand funding, traceability and policy support—without which India risks losing a key market.

Inconsistent plant-level reporting has derailed baseline setting, delaying India’s carbon trading rollout as policymakers race to align with EU carbon rules and avoid double compliance costs.

India’s farmland is becoming the new frontier of carbon removal. A few startups are working with farmers to turn crop residue, rice irrigation and soil chemistry into tradable credits. With global buyers signing deals, India could become a low-cost powerhouse for durable carbon removal.

Such an institution could brighten India’s prospects of pursuing Viksit Bharat by 2047 even as it aims for net-zero emissions by 2070. With decarbonization demanding trillions in long-term capital, credit from the regular banking system won’t suffice.