UNEP Production Gap Report

Context

Recently, the 2021 Production Gap Report was released by the leading research institutes and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Key-findings

• Production Gap Expansion: The production gap to achieve the climate goal is the widest for coal.
• Production plans and forecasting by the Government will lead to 240% more coal, 57% more oil, and 71% more gas by 2030 than global levels associated with a limit warming of 1.5 ° C.
• The most worrying factor is that almost all major coal, oil and gas producers are planning to increase their production till at least 2030 or beyond.
• Effects of Covid-19: the production gap was influenced by the increased cash flow towards fossil fuels compared to clean energy in the coronavirus (Covid-19) post recovery phase.
• The Group of 20 countries (G20) has channelized $ 300 billion in fossil fuel since the beginning of the pandemic, and the sector is still enjoying huge fiscal incentives.

Indian position

• India's first NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), released in 2016, promised a 33% -35% reduction in its “emissions intensity” by 2030, compared to 2005.
• The report quotes a 2020 Government of India press release, to shine a light on India’s plans to raise coal production.
• The government wants to “unleash the power of coal” and become self-sufficient in 2023-24.
• It also seeks to bring about “a shift from the slope to the highest incomes from coal to high-quality coal available on the market very quickly.”
• India plans to increase coal production from 730 million tons by 2019 to 1,149 million by 2024.
• India also aims to increase oil and gas production by 40% at the same time through measures such as speeding up the exploration license, monetization of the discoveries, and the transformation of gas marketing.