Raw: [
The government of India unveiled its new interim climate goals, including new approved targets to […]]
India Approves Cautious 2035 Climate, Clean Energy Goals – ESG Today
ESG Investing, sustainable finance & business sustainability news
ESG investing news, analysis, research and information
Top Stories ESG News
Companies
Government
Investors
Regulators
Sustainable Finance
ESG Solutions ESG Tools, Services
Companies Companies
Investors Investors
ESG Disclosure ESG Reporting
Analysis
Regulators
Reports, Studies
Newsfeed
Resources
Events
About About us
Our Team
Advertise With Us
Energy Transition/ Environment/ Government
India Approves Cautious 2035 Climate, Clean Energy Goals
Mark Segal
March 27, 2026
The government of India unveiled its new interim climate goals, including new approved targets to reduce economy-wide emissions intensity by 47% and to achieve 60% of electric power capacity from non-fossil-based sources by 2035.
While the government said that the new targets were aligned with India’s long-term climate goal to reach net zero by 2070, environmental groups criticized the targets as lacking ambition and clarity. Climate analytics platform Climate Action Tracker, for example, note that the new emissions goal represents only an incremental increase from India’s current target to reduce emissions intensity by 45% by 2030, and that the country is already on track to hit the new non-fossil energy goal by 2030 under current policies.
Climate Action Tracker also noted that with the use of an emissions intensity target, instead of an absolute emissions reduction goal, India’s actual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could continue to rise with economic growth, even if the target were to be achieved.
Dr Nandini Das, India expert at Climate Action Tracker, said:
“India has missed an opportunity to come up with a national, economy-wide 2035 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions.”
India is one of the largest emitters in the world, behind only China and the U.S., representing approximately 6.5% of global GHG emissions, according to World Resources Institute.
The new goal will form India’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. NDCs are national climate action plans presented by each country under the agreement, and are required to be updated every five years with increasingly higher ambition.
India set its first NDC in 2015, pledging to reduce emissions intensity by 33% – 35% and to achieve 40% electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Both goals were met several years early, and in 2022, India updated its 2030 ambitions, targeting a 45% emissions intensity reduction and 50% non-fossil fuel electricity. The new non-fossil energy goal has already been achieved, with India currently at 52.6%.
Alongside the emissions and non-fossil energy goals, India also announced a new target to create carbon sink through forest and tree cover to 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2035 from a 2005 level. India’s current goal is to create 2.5 – 3 billion tonnes of CO2e carbon sink by 2030, and the government said that it has reached 2.29 billion tonnes to date.
The government outlined key measures that will be taken to achieve its new emissions and clean energy goals, including initiatives focused on large-scale renewable energy expansion, battery storage systems, as well as green energy corridors, cleaner manufacturing, and ensuring reliable and sustainable infrastructure across the country. Additionally, the strategy will emphasize strengthening institutional capacity, innovation ecosystems, and local-level adaptation measures, the government said, through programs such as India’s Green Hydrogen Mission, Production Linked Incentive scheme, a push for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and nuclear energy.
In a statement announcing the approval of the new goals, the government said:
“The Cabinet’s approval of India’s Nationally Determined Contribution for the period 2031 to 2035 marks a major milestone in India’s journey towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future, further strengthening its role as a global leader in climate action.”
Mark founded ESG Today following a 20 year career in investment management and research. Prior to founding ESG Today, Mark worked at Delaney Capital Management (DCM) in Toronto, Canada, most recently as the firm’s head of U.S. equities. While at DCM, Mark was part of the firm’s ESG team, responsible for evaluating and tracking the sustainability factors impacting portfolio companies, and assessing the suitability of companies for portfolio inclusion. Mark also spent several years in the sell-side research industry, covering the technology and services sectors. Mark holds an MBA from Columbia University in New York, a BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, and is a CFA charterholder.
Related Posts
Energy Transition /
Germany Adopts Climate Action Plan to Slash Emissions, Fossil Fuel Consumption
Environment /
Radisson Sets Goal to Reach 100 Net Zero Hotels by 2030
Government /
Trump Administration Pays TotalEnergies $1 Billion to End Offshore Wind Projects in U.S.
‹ Climate Investment Raises $450 Million to Address the “Missing Middle” in Climate Tech Finance
Sustainable Finance
Zelestra Secures $600 Million Green Financing to Build Solar Projects Backed by PPAs with Meta
Church of England Pensions Board to Vote Against HSBC, NatWest, Santander Directors for Backtracking on Climate Commitments
Standard Chartered, COFCO Sign $435 Million Loan with Terms Tied to Supply Chain Sustainability Targets
Fervo Secures $421 Million to Build U.S. Geothermal Energy Plant
Government
India Approves Cautious 2035 Climate, Clean Energy Goals
Germany Adopts Climate Action Plan to Slash Emissions, Fossil Fuel Consumption
Trump Administration Pays TotalEnergies $1 Billion to End Offshore Wind Projects in U.S.
New York Governor Proposes Pushing Back Climate Targets that Have Become “Costly and Unattainable”
Categories
Select Category
Companies
Energy Transition
Environment
ESG Reporting
ESG Tools, Services
Executive Moves
Governance
Government
Guest Posts
Investors
M&A
New funds & products
Platforms & Markets
Private Equity & Venture Capital
Professional bodies
Regulators
Reports, Studies
Social
Social & Governance
Sustainable Finance
Back to Top
Home
About us
Disclosure, cookies & privacy policy
© ESG Today 2026
Never miss the latest breaking ESG investment news. Get ESG Today’s newsletter today!
Subscribe Now
c