Four G20 Countries Have Higher GHC Emissions: Report 

The NITI Aayog recently released a report on decarbonizing transport among the G20 countries. The report attributed the rise of transportation emissions to the surge in motorization across these countries. 

The report also claimed that four G20 countries have the higher GreenHouse Gases (GHG) emissions per KwH. Describing growth in grid emission among the G20 countries, the report highlighted, “While most countries show at least moderate improvement in grid emission factors, four G20 countries – namely, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa – now have higher GHG emissions per kWh to 1990”. 

The report highlighted that there was an urgency to rapidly transform and diversify the energy system. This system would ensure clean and sustainable solutions to help in providing a just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition. It focused on the importance of attracting investment to reach those targets.

Highlighting the trend in the transportation network, the report highlighted that across the year-over-year (YoY) growth in transport-sector, emissions showed a marginal decrease of 0.15% in 2019 and some G20 countries have witnessed a reduction in emissions since 2015. 

“However, overall G20 transport emissions grew by almost 6% in 2015–2019. Further, on the question of increasing efficiency, the report highlighted the use of small and lighter vehicles,” the report said. To generate energy from renewable energy, the report suggested, generating greater electricity from land-based transportation and expansion of power to X fuel within the aviation and shipping industry would encourage decarbonization,” the report said.  

The report highlighted the myriad challenges faced by the G20 economies in bringing socio-economic transformation in society, particularly in the transportation sector. This is especially true for South Asian countries like India and China which are facing a dramatic change in the transportation system, the report highlighted. 

The report said that despite the COP26 observing a transport-related policy-based commitment among states, there is no evident trend supporting its reduced emission. The report suggested setting up of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets and policies to facilitate them in reaching those targets. Therefore, the report highlighted creating policy measures as the first step in achieving the decarbonization goals.  

Highlighting the need of energy transition in transport, the report added that the segment needed transformation to serve mobility demand more efficiently while generating lower emissions. Thus, to achieve this, the report suggested bringing focus on ‘mobility transition’ and ‘energy transition in transport’ among the G20 countries as the first step.  

The report showcased the need for testing as an important element to encourage the implementation of new ideas that would accelerate the uptake of low carbon mobility. Though India has already reduced oil and gas subsidies by 75% and simultaneously increased subsidies for renewable energy by six-fold. For instance, the report gave the example of Indonesia, which reallocated fossil fuels subsidy education, health, and infrastructure projects.

Apart from allocating financing through subsidies, the report also cited examples from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which have invested in developing a railway network that is energy-efficient. Similarly, other countries such as France have replaced short domestic flights with rail. Other countries such as India, Argentina, and Brazil have also set targets for reducing transportation emissions, the report said. 

To bring the decarbonizing mission among the G20 countries, the report suggested measures to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. For instance, the report said, “Increasing cost competitiveness of public transport, supporting the electrification of vehicle, and market uptake of electricity, generating zero carbon fuel for aviation and shipping.”

Within the power industry, highlighting the factors that can benefit from increased shares of non-fossil fuel, the report said, “Electrification is an important tool in many countries for addressing local air pollution, a shift towards fully renewable power generation would help to reduce GHG emissions in the power sector while also supporting zero-carbon transport options.” 

Lastly, the report observed the importance of integrating electrification and digitalization with other sectors. Further, the report suggested setting up a working stream dedicated to transforming the transportation sector. The report also put forth some recommendations too. 

“Pooling expertise of IT, transport, and power grid experts, it should be possible to identify measures that can promote greater integration between the power and transport sectors, and, by extension, guide the decarbonization of the transport sector and energy economy as a whole,” the report concluded.