The Link Between Energy and Climate Change

Energy and climate change are deeply connected. The way we produce and consume energy-particularly through burning fossil fuels-is the primary driver of global warming. For countries like India, balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility presents a significant challenge. Understanding this relationship is essential for anyone seeking to grasp the full scope of the climate crisis and the pathways to address it.

Fossil fuels and global warming
Why does this matter?
Paris Agreement goals and the need for drastic action
The emissions gap remains wide
India’s low per capita emissions: the equity argument
The case for climate justice
Innovation for mitigation: pathways forward
Carbon capture and storage
Clean coal technologies
Renewable energy expansion
The challenge ahead

Fossil fuels and global warming

Energy is responsible for the majority of climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels combust, they release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat and raising global temperatures.

India is currently the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, behind China and the United States. India’s greenhouse gas emissions surged by 6.1 per cent in 2023, contributing to 8 per cent of the global total. The power sector accounts for the largest share of the country’s emissions, followed by agriculture-together, these two sectors are responsible for more than half of India’s total emissions.

The heavy reliance on coal is a primary factor. Coal-fired electricity generation accounts for roughly three-quarters of India’s power supply, making it one of the most carbon-intensive energy systems among major economies. Globally, coal, oil, and gas contribute 41 per cent, 32 per cent, and 21 per cent of fossil CO₂ emissions respectively.

Why does this matter?

The consequences of continued fossil fuel dependence are severe. Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels reached a record high of 37.4 billion tonnes in 2024, up 0.8% from 2023 levels. Researchers from the Global Carbon Project noted there is still no sign that the world has reached a peak in fossil CO₂ emissions. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are now 52% above pre-industrial levels, driving temperature increases and intensifying extreme weather events worldwide.

Paris Agreement goals and the need for drastic action

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to hold global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. The agreement is legally binding and has been joined by 195 parties as of early 2023. It requires all countries to reduce emissions and strengthen their commitments over time.

Achieving these targets demands a rapid transformation of energy systems. Countries need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-70% compared to 2010 levels by 2050 to stay on track. According to the IPCC, limiting warming to 1.5°C requires global net CO₂ emissions to decline by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching net zero around 2050.

The emissions gap remains wide

The world needs to cut 2030 emissions by 28 per cent to achieve the 2°C goal with reasonable probability, and by 42 per cent for the 1.5°C target. Current pledges fall short. Commitments under the Paris Agreement have contributed to reducing projected end-of-century warming from 3.7-4.8°C to 2.4-2.6°C-significant progress, but still far from sufficient.

At COP28 in 2023, governments agreed to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy in their next round of climate commitments. This marked the first explicit acknowledgment of the need to move beyond fossil fuels in the history of UN climate negotiations.

India’s low per capita emissions: the equity argument

While India ranks among the top emitters in absolute terms, the picture changes dramatically when viewed through per capita emissions. India has the lowest per capita emissions in the G20, at just 1.9 tonnes of CO₂ per person-roughly an eighth of what the average American emits per year.

India’s historical share of cumulative global greenhouse gas emissions is only about 4%, despite being home to more than 17% of the world’s population. This stands in stark contrast to developed nations that have been emitting at high levels since the industrial revolution began.

The case for climate justice

Examining per capita emissions provides important perspective on climate responsibility. India’s population is nearly three times larger than the European Union’s, yet based on emissions per person, India ranks much lower among global emitters.

India’s per capita emissions are one-third of the global average, while developed countries maintain per capita emissions three to four times the global average. Indian officials have called for shifting the climate discourse from total emissions to per capita emissions, arguing that developing countries need the carbon space to grow their economies and improve living standards.

This raises important questions about how the remaining carbon budget should be shared. India has emphasised that all countries should have equitable access to the global carbon budget, a finite resource, while staying within their fair share to meet Paris Agreement targets.

Innovation for mitigation: pathways forward

Reducing emissions while meeting growing energy demands requires technological innovation across multiple fronts. Several key technologies and strategies are emerging as essential tools for climate mitigation.

Carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies can capture more than 90 percent of CO₂ emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. Once captured, the carbon dioxide can be stored in underground geological formations or put to productive use in manufacturing fuels, building materials, or enhanced oil recovery.

In the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario, CCUS accounts for nearly 15% of the cumulative reduction in emissions by 2070. The technology is viewed as particularly important for hard-to-abate sectors. Without CCS, achieving a 2°C goal is estimated to be 138% more expensive, according to the IPCC.

Canada’s Boundary Dam Power Station, operational since 2014, demonstrates that CCS can work at scale. The facility has captured and stored more than 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ since operations began. In China, the Taizhou thermal coal power plant stands as Asia’s largest CCS facility, with capacity to capture 0.5 million tonnes per year.

Clean coal technologies

Given coal’s continued role in energy systems, particularly in Asia, various technologies aim to reduce its environmental impact. Advanced technologies like integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) and pressurised fluidised bed combustion (PFBC) enable higher thermal efficiencies-up to 50% in future applications. Higher efficiency means less coal burned per unit of electricity generated, and therefore fewer emissions.

Low-NOx burners can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 40%, while selective catalytic reduction can eliminate 90% of NOx emissions. These incremental improvements, while not solving the fundamental carbon problem, reduce the overall environmental footprint of coal power.

Renewable energy expansion

The most significant opportunity for emissions reduction lies in transitioning to renewable energy sources. India ranked fourth in the world in cumulative renewable energy capacity in 2024. Investment in renewable energy projects in India increased by over 91.5% between 2023 and 2024.

In 2024-25, non-fossil sources contributed the majority of additional electricity generation in India for the first time. This represented a significant turning point, though the country still has no commitment to phasing out coal power entirely.

India has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The country’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions include reducing emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50% of electric power from non-fossil sources.

The challenge ahead

The relationship between energy and climate change presents one of humanity’s most complex challenges. Fossil fuels have powered economic development for over a century, lifting billions out of poverty. Yet their continued use threatens the stable climate on which human civilisation depends.

For developing nations like India, the path forward requires balancing legitimate development needs with environmental responsibility. India’s 2030 emissions under current policies are 8-11% higher than previous assessments, and overall emissions are still expected to rise beyond 2030. The challenge is immense: meeting the energy needs of 1.4 billion people while reducing carbon emissions.

Success will require massive investment in renewable energy, continued development of carbon capture technologies, improvements in energy efficiency, and international cooperation on climate finance and technology transfer. The technical solutions exist; the question is whether they can be deployed at the scale and speed required.

What do you think? How should developing countries balance the need for economic growth with climate commitments? And what role should developed nations play in supporting this transition?

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Table of Contents

Fossil fuels and global warming 🔗

Why does this matter? 🔗

Paris Agreement goals and the need for drastic action 🔗

The emissions gap remains wide 🔗

India’s low per capita emissions: the equity argument 🔗

The case for climate justice 🔗

Innovation for mitigation: pathways forward 🔗

Carbon capture and storage 🔗

Clean coal technologies 🔗

Renewable energy expansion 🔗

The challenge ahead 🔗