India submits fourth Biennial Update Report to UNFCCC: 2020 emissions down 7.93% from 2019
India's BUR-4, submitted to the UNFCCC on 30 December 2024, contains the national GHG inventory for 2020.
Summary
India's fourth Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 30 December 2024. The report updates India's Third National Communication and contains the national greenhouse gas inventory for 2020. India's total emissions in 2020 fell by 7.93% compared with 2019: 2,959 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent excluding land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and 2,437 million tonnes net of LULUCF. Energy contributed 75.66% of emissions, followed by agriculture (13.72%), industrial processes and product use (8.06%) and waste (2.56%). Forests, trees and other land use sequestered about 522 million tonnes of CO2, equal to 22% of total CO2 emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, the emission intensity of GDP fell by 36%, and by October 2024 non-fossil sources made up 46.52% of installed electricity capacity.
Key facts
- Submitted
- 30 December 2024 to the UNFCCC
- Inventory year
- 2020; updates the Third National Communication
- Change vs 2019
- −7.93%
- Emissions 2020
- 2,959 MtCO2e excluding LULUCF; 2,437 MtCO2e net with LULUCF
- Sector shares
- Energy 75.66%, Agriculture 13.72%, IPPU 8.06%, Waste 2.56%
- Sink
- About 522 Mt CO2 sequestered (22% of CO2 emissions)
- Emission intensity of GDP
- Down 36% between 2005 and 2020
- Non-fossil capacity share
- 46.52% (October 2024)
- Renewables
- 203.22 GW including large hydro; excluding large hydro 35 GW (March 2014) → 156.25 GW
- Forest and tree cover
- 25.17% of geographical area; additional sink of 2.29 billion t CO2e (2005–2021)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to India's fourth Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted to the UNFCCC on 30 December 2024, by how much did India's total GHG emissions in 2020 change compared with 2019?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Decreased by 7.93%
PIB (MoEFCC): India's total GHG emissions in 2020 decreased by 7.93% with respect to 2019.
As per BUR-4, which sector was the second-largest contributor to India's GHG emissions in 2020, after energy?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Agriculture
PIB (MoEFCC): energy contributed 75.66%, followed by agriculture (13.72%), IPPU (8.06%) and waste (2.56%); LULUCF acted as a net sink.
Consider the following statements regarding India's BUR-4: 1. It contains the national GHG inventory for the year 2020. 2. Between 2005 and 2020, India's emission intensity of GDP fell by 36%. 3. By October 2024, non-fossil sources made up more than half of India's installed electricity capacity. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoEFCC): BUR-4 contains the 2020 inventory and emission intensity of GDP fell by 36% (2005–2020); the non-fossil share of installed capacity was 46.52%, less than half, so statement 3 is wrong.