India occupies top spot globally in emissions related to crop burning: Report

India is ranked at the top in emissions related to crop burning, accounting for 13 per cent of total global emissions for the 2015-2020 period, according to a new report released by climate tech startup Blue Sky Analytics, which is also part of global coalition “Climate TRACE”.

Blue Sky Analytics, the Indian climate tech startup founded by an IIT alumnus, also pointed towards a 12.2-per cent contribution by India to cropland fire emissions in 2020.

Key Highlights

• The data in the report reveals new insights into recent trends in biomass fires, including emissions from forest and crop residue fires in India.

• For example, the data verifies the downward trend in crop fires being observed between 2016 and 2019, citing a reduction in the GHG emissions due to cropland fires by 11.39 per cent in the said period.

• However, it also points to an increase in emissions by 12.8 per cent in 2019-20, increasing India’s global contribution to 12.2 per cent.

• Climate TRACE is a global coalition with a mission to accelerate climate action by providing independent high-resolution and near-real-time (GHG) emissions data.

• Its innovative approach fills critical knowledge gaps for all countries that rely on the patchwork system of self-reporting that currently serves as the basis for most existing emissions inventories.

SOURCE: Business Standard

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