India fourth highest CO2 emitting country: study

The report highlighted that India's emissions looked set to continue their strong growth by an average of 6.3 per cent in 2018, with growth across all fuels -coal (7.1 per cent), oil (2.9 per cent) and gas (6 per cent).

Representational Image: PTI

New Delhi: India has been listed as the fourth highest carbon dioxide emitting country in the world, accounting for 7 per cent of global emissions in 2017, a study has said. According to the projection by the Global Carbon Project the top four emitters in the year 2017 which covered 58 per cent of global emissions, were China (27 per cent), the US (15 per cent), the European Union (10 per cent) and India (7 per cent) while the rest of the world contributed 41 per cent last year, it said. The report highlighted that India's emissions looked set to continue their strong growth by an average of 6.3 per cent in 2018, with growth across all fuels -coal (7.1 per cent), oil (2.9 per cent) and gas (6 per cent). The study also said the Indian emissions were projected to grow 2 per cent in 2017, compared to 6 per cent per year averaged over the previous decade, due to significant government interventions in the economy. The emissions are expected to grow by a solid 6.3 per cent in 2018, pushed by strong economic growth of around 8 per cent per year. China, India and the European Union are setting the pace. These regions represent 40 per cent of global carbon emissions. They are set to achieve more than what they agreed to in the first round of Paris Agreement in 2015, the report said. The top 10 emitters were China, the US, the EU, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea. "Coal is still the mainstay of the Indian economy, and as in China, it will be a challenge for solar and wind to displace coal, given the strong growth in energy use," it said. It also said that although global coal use is still 3 per cent lower than its historical high, it is expected to grow in 2018, driven by growth in energy consumption in China and India. (with inputs from PTI)