Cleaning and greening Indian energy

New Delhi has signed up to the Paris climate-change agreement. Now it needs a cogent plan for natural gas

India last month ratified the Paris climate-change agreement, bringing the international accord to the brink of implementation. The third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), accounting for 4.1% of the world total, India is not setting an outright cap on emissions. Instead, it plans to increase use of green energy and reduce emissions relative to GDP. Emissions will continue to rise, in other words, but at a slower rate. By 2030, the government hopes, GHG emissions per unit of GDP will be down by 33-35% and the country will be getting at least 40% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels. More carbon-free energy will come from renewables-notably solar PV and wind-and, it is ho