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India’s stand on GHG emissionsIndia supports reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping and the IMO’s net-zero ambition, but insists that implementation must be equitable, practical, technology-neutral and sensitive to developing countries.
India’s position is strongly based on the principle of CBDR-RC — Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities. India maintains that developed nations bear the historical responsibility for climate change and must lead emission cuts while providing climate finance and technology transfer to developing nations.
India supports the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, whose main ambitions are:
- Carbon intensity reduction of international shipping by at least 40% by 2030 compared with 2008.
- Zero/near-zero GHG fuels or technologies to supply at least 5%, striving for 10%, of shipping energy by 2030.
- Total GHG emissions reduced by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030.
- At least 70%, striving for 80%, reduction by 2040.
- Net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050, taking different national circumstances into account.
India has particularly supported the GFI — Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity based approach, rather than a simple universal flat carbon levy.
India supports a two-tier GFI system:
Tier 1: common/basic compliance threshold;
Tier 2: stricter direct-compliance target linked with market-based measures and incentives.
India considers this preferable because charges are related to the actual GHG intensity/performance of the fuel, rather than simply taxing every tonne of CO₂ equally. DGS has stated that such an approach is more flexible and economically equitable for countries such as India.
India also wants revenues collected through any IMO pricing mechanism or Net-Zero Fund to be managed transparently and used to support developing countries, green-fuel infrastructure, technology transfer and a just and equitable transition.