India Boosts Climate Targets to 60% Nonfossil Capacity by 2035

India announced enhanced climate targets on Wednesday, pledging to derive 60 percent of its installed electricity capacity from nonfossil sources by 2035, reduce emissions intensity per unit of gross domestic product by 47 percent from 2005 levels, and expand its carbon sink to 3.5 to 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the same baseline period. The commitments, approved by the Union Cabinet in New Delhi, update the country's Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement and will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The new goals build on India's previous 2030 targets, which included 50 percent nonfossil capacity, a 45 percent reduction in emissions intensity, and a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes. Official data shows India has already surpassed the nonfossil capacity goal, with more than 52 percent achieved as of early 2026, driven by expansions in solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and nuclear power. Emissions intensity has declined by 36 percent from 2005 to 2020, while the carbon sink reached 2.29 billion tonnes by 2021 through afforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts. Forest and tree cover now...