India could reduce the growth of its carbon emissions by as much as 33-35 per cent even while sustaining its high GDP growth of 8-9 per cent over the next decade.

This is provided adequate international help was forthcoming, both in terms of technology and finance, according to the Expert Group on Low Carbon Growth Strategies.

The interim report on low carbon growth strategies was submitted to the Planning Commission on Monday by the head of the panel, Mr Kirit Parikh. Inputs from the report will be part of the 12th Five Year Plan, starting 2012-13.

The report outlines strategies to limit emissions growth in highly polluting sectors such as power, industry, transport, buildings and forestry. For example in the power sector, reducing electricity demand by use of more efficient appliances, introduction of more fuel efficient power plants and change of the mix of power plants need to be considered, Mr Kirit Parik, said.

Similarly, in the transport sector, promoting goods transport by railways, mass transport for passenger movement, facilitating non-motorised transport and increasing fuel efficiency are explored. In the industrial sector, the possibility of reducing emissions through change in technology in sectors such as steel, cement, oil and gas need to be considered, he added.

With effective implementation of policies already in place and with continuous up-gradation of technology and finance from both public and private sources, the emissions intensity could be reduced by 23-25 per cent, Mr Parikh said. This is broadly in line with India's global commitment of reducing its emissions intensity of 20-25 per cent over 2005 levels by 2020. However, in an “aggressive effort scenario” where new policies, in addition to effective implementation of existing policies, the emissions intensity could be reduced by much as 33-35 per cent over the 2005 levels. Mr Parikh said the economic costs of a transition to the low carbon economy will be submitted in the final report by next January.

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