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 India  Joined GMI in 2004 

Introduction

India is a founding member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) and provides significant ongoing support by serving in leadership roles in the Steering Committee and Coal Mines Subcommittee.

As part of its national climate strategy, India has implemented a range of measures to reduce methane emissions, including establishing regulatory standards and promoting clean energy alternatives like biogas. These efforts support both methane reduction and rural development, helping India achieve national goals and global targets for climate action.

India is active on the Steering Committee (Vice Chair), the Biogas Subcommittee, and the Coal Mines Subcommittee (Co-Chair).

Finland is currently active on the Steering Committee and the Biogas Subcommittee.


Methane Emissions Summary

According to India’s Third National Communication and Initial Adaption Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), published in 2023, methane emissions accounted for 13.06% of India's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2019. Most of India’s GHG emissions come from the energy sector and agriculture sector.

GHG Emissions by Gas, 2019
GHG Emissions by Gas, 2019

Trends in GHG Emissions by Source, 2000-2019
Trends in GHG Emissions by Source, 2000-2019

GHG Emissions by Category, 2019
GHG Emissions by Category, 2019

Source: India’s Third National Communication and Initial Adaption Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2024. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/India-TNC-IAC.pdf

Methane Commitments and Plans

National

India has a national action plan and strategies aligned with the broad goal of mitigating greenhouse gases and fostering sustainable development.

  • India submitted its Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy to the UNFCC in January 2022. The strategy defines India’s action plan for achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) goals by 2030 and its long-term goals of net zero emissions by 2070.
  • In January 2019, India launched its National Clean Air Programme, a national level strategy which identified actions to reduce air pollution and improve the monitoring of air quality across the country.
  • The Government of India published the National Action Plan on Climate Change in June 2008. The plan defined a national strategy to promote understanding of climate change, adaptation and mitigation, conservation of natural resources, and energy efficiency.

Subnational

Indian states address methane mitigation with individual State Action Plans. These plans take into account the physical characteristics of the State and its climate. Plans include efforts to enhance waste management systems, promote biogas production from organic waste, and adopt sustainable agricultural practices.

International

India supports and engages with international climate efforts to address methane challenges.

Methane Actions

The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by India to address methane, organized by GMI sector. 

Biogas Sector

Coal Mines Sector

  • India's coal industry is promoting renewable energy projects to reduce carbon and methane emissions, focusing on solar and wind projects, including rooftop installations and solar parks in reclaimed mining areas. The goal is to install 9,000 MW of renewable energy, supporting the country's transition towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. (2023)

Cross Sector

  • The National Mission for Green India aims to enhance forest cover and address climate change, with efforts to reduce methane emissions. This includes promoting biogas as an alternative energy source to cut methane levels and improve environmental sustainability. (2015)

Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions

Explore the following websites to learn more about the government ministries addressing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in India.

GMI Delegates

Committee/SubcommitteeDelegate NameAffiliation
Biogas SubcommitteeDinesh Dayanand JagdaleIndia Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Coal SubcommitteeManoj KumarCentral Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
Steering CommitteeAjay KumarCentral Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
Steering CommitteeManoj KumarCentral Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
Steering CommitteeM. NagarajuMinistry of Coal of India
Steering CommitteeChiranjib PatraCentral Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)
Steering CommitteeRavi Shankar YadavCentral Mine Planning & Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI)


Global Methane Initiative (GMI)
Leading methane action since 2004