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UPSC Prelims 2016 · Environment · Rules for the Planet
The term 'Intended Nationally Determined Contributions' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of
- (a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East.
- (b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change.
- (c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
- (d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change.
INDCs are the climate action plans countries submitted before the Paris Agreement; once ratified they became NDCs.
The idea
Kyoto worked top-down: targets were fixed for countries by negotiation. Paris works bottom-up: each country writes its own climate plan and submits it. Before the Paris meeting these plans were called “intended” contributions. When a country ratifies the Agreement, the word “intended” drops and the plan becomes its NDC.
Country writes its own plan (INDC) → Ratifies the Paris Agreement → Plan becomes its NDC → A new NDC every five years → Each one must be stronger than the last
Why the others are wrong
(d) SDG plans are called voluntary national reviews, not INDCs.
Also know
India’s first NDC (2015): cut emissions intensity of GDP by 33–35% from 2005 levels, 40% of power capacity from non-fossil sources, and an extra carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes through forests, all by 2030. The 2022 update raised the first two to 45% and 50% and added the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) idea. India’s net-zero year is 2070.
🔒 INDC → NDC (after ratifying Paris). India’s updated NDC (2022): 45% less emissions intensity by 2030 (vs 2005), 50% non-fossil power capacity.