NEW DELHI: Govt think tank, Niti Aayog, on Wednesday released roadmaps for decarbonisation of aluminium, cement and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sectors, aimed at guiding the country towards a net-zero emission future through sustainable processes.The move comes in the backdrop of the country’s climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement and the govt’s recent decision to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity reduction targets of traditionally high-emitting sectors including aluminium, cement, petrochemical and textile to meet specific reduction goals by 2026-27 compared to a 2023-24 baseline.“These roadmaps will not only help these sectors reach their emission intensity reduction targets but also contribute immensely towards achieving India’s net-zero goal (carbon neutrality) of 2070,” said an official in the environment ministry.B V R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, while releasing these roadmaps, emphasized that these roadmaps would serve as reference manuals for India to achieve its unique goal of becoming a developed country as well as decarbonising the industry simultaneously. Globally, cement production is a significant source of carbon emissions. In 2023, cement manufacturing contributed roughly 2.4 GtCO2e emissions worldwide. India’s production of cement resulted in roughly 246 MtCO2e of emissions which was around 6% of national GHG emissions.Similarly, production of aluminium accounted for about 2.8% of India’s total GHG emissions in 2023. The country’s domestic demand for aluminium is projected to increase sharply from 4 million tonnes in 2023 to over 37 million tonnes by 2070, almost three times the projected global growth rate.MSMEs, which have over 36% share in manufacturing, too rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet their energy and process requirements, resulting in approximately 135 million tonnes of carbon emissions (MtCO2e) in 2022 alone.Keeping this in view, the roadmaps for the cement, aluminium and MSMEs sectors are intended as practical planning tools, outlining how each sector can move step by step toward more sustainable, lower-carbon modes of production. It carries various recommendations and solutions which help decarbonise these sectors.“The move will also help India navigate through the European Union’s carbon border tax on GHG intensive (emission generated during production) goods such as aluminium and cement by reducing carbon footprints in the manufacturing processes of these sectors,” said the official.EU’s carbon border tax – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – is a tool to put a price through imposing border tax on such goods that are entering the 27 EU nations. If India does not take steps to decarbonise these sectors, they will attract a tariff burden on such products and impact the country’s exports.Under the decarbonisation strategy, the cement sector will reduce its carbon intensity from 0.63 tCO₂e per tonne of cement to approximately 0.09-0.13 tCO₂e per tonne by 2070. The roadmap for the sector proposes to prioritize the use of refuse-derived fuels, clinker substitution, scaling up of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and effective implementation of carbon credit trading scheme to enable deep decarbonisation in this sector.The decarbonisation roadmap for aluminium sector identifies three phased solutions – transition to renewable energy-round the clock (RE-RTC) power and enhanced grid connectivity in the short term, adoption of nuclear power in the medium term, and long-term integration of CCUS.The roadmap for green transition of MSMEs focuses on three key levers: deployment of energy-efficient equipment, adoption of alternative fuels, and integration of green electricity.Observing that MSMEs are important members of domestic and international supply chains, Suman Bery, vice chairperson, NITI Aayog, urged prioritizing technology adoption, access to affordable finance, skilling & regulatory reforms, and increased participation of female workforce to achieve overall competitiveness of the sector.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Makes No Sense…” Ex-US Army Officer Slams Trump Over India-US RelationsUK, EU FTAs to Unlock New Export Opportunities for Assam Tea: Himanta Sarma’Rupture In World Order’: EU Blasts Trump Over ‘Bullying’; Danish MP Fires Shock Message For US PresOperation Prahar: Punjab Police Raid Locations Linked to 60 Foreign GangstersIndia Will Surpass Japan To Become 3rd Largest Economy: Gita Gopinath At World Economic Forum 2026Democracy Took Roots In India In 600 BC, Long Before The World: CEC Gyanesh KumarExplained: Why India-EU ‘Mother Of All Deals’ Matters As Trade Talks Enter Final High Stakes PhasePakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut Outlet, Trolled on Social Media’Influencers, AI And Deepfakes’: Indian Army Exposes Pakistan’s Digital War During Operation SindoorIndus Waters Flashpoint: Pakistan Cries Crisis At UN As India Hardens Terror Stance Post Pahalgam123PhotostoriesUnseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh KhannaLaughter Chefs Season 3 to bring major changes: OG Arjun Bijlani, Ankita Lokhande–Vicky Jain return as Team Kaanta vs Churi endsJapanese Ambassador relishes biryani with bare hands: 6 times global leaders have shown love for Indian food10 Asian cities with the longest commute time to work2 Indian chicken dishes among top 17 in the worldDaily practices you can do for planetary balanceHow to make Chilli Paneer for evening snacking at homeBasant Panchami 2026 outfit ideas: Bollywood celebrities prove yellow is still the power colourHop-on, hop-off: Bengaluru welcomes double-decker buses after 26 yearsBengaluru airport rail link set to decongest city roads; K-ride gets green light123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordTravis KelceDonald Trump PlaneUdaipur Car AccidentJonathan KumingaCandace OwensDonna KelceJohn Harbaughs WifeKlay ThompsonsAshwini Vaishnaw
NEW DELHI: Govt think tank, Niti Aayog, on Wednesday released roadmaps for decarbonisation of aluminium, cement and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sectors, aimed at guiding the country towards a net-zero emission future through sustainable processes.The move comes in the backdrop of the country’s climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement and the govt’s recent decision to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity reduction targets of traditionally high-emitting sectors including aluminium, cement, petrochemical and textile to meet specific reduction goals by 2026-27 compared to a 2023-24 baseline.“These roadmaps will not only help these sectors reach their emission intensity reduction targets but also contribute immensely towards achieving India’s net-zero goal (carbon neutrality) of 2070,” said an official in the environment ministry.B V R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, while releasing these roadmaps, emphasized that these roadmaps would serve as reference manuals for India to achieve its unique goal of becoming a developed country as well as decarbonising the industry simultaneously. Globally, cement production is a significant source of carbon emissions. In 2023, cement manufacturing contributed roughly 2.4 GtCO2e emissions worldwide. India’s production of cement resulted in roughly 246 MtCO2e of emissions which was around 6% of national GHG emissions.Similarly, production of aluminium accounted for about 2.8% of India’s total GHG emissions in 2023. The country’s domestic demand for aluminium is projected to increase sharply from 4 million tonnes in 2023 to over 37 million tonnes by 2070, almost three times the projected global growth rate.MSMEs, which have over 36% share in manufacturing, too rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet their energy and process requirements, resulting in approximately 135 million tonnes of carbon emissions (MtCO2e) in 2022 alone.Keeping this in view, the roadmaps for the cement, aluminium and MSMEs sectors are intended as practical planning tools, outlining how each sector can move step by step toward more sustainable, lower-carbon modes of production. It carries various recommendations and solutions which help decarbonise these sectors.“The move will also help India navigate through the European Union’s carbon border tax on GHG intensive (emission generated during production) goods such as aluminium and cement by reducing carbon footprints in the manufacturing processes of these sectors,” said the official.EU’s carbon border tax – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – is a tool to put a price through imposing border tax on such goods that are entering the 27 EU nations. If India does not take steps to decarbonise these sectors, they will attract a tariff burden on such products and impact the country’s exports.Under the decarbonisation strategy, the cement sector will reduce its carbon intensity from 0.63 tCO₂e per tonne of cement to approximately 0.09-0.13 tCO₂e per tonne by 2070. The roadmap for the sector proposes to prioritize the use of refuse-derived fuels, clinker substitution, scaling up of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and effective implementation of carbon credit trading scheme to enable deep decarbonisation in this sector.The decarbonisation roadmap for aluminium sector identifies three phased solutions – transition to renewable energy-round the clock (RE-RTC) power and enhanced grid connectivity in the short term, adoption of nuclear power in the medium term, and long-term integration of CCUS.The roadmap for green transition of MSMEs focuses on three key levers: deployment of energy-efficient equipment, adoption of alternative fuels, and integration of green electricity.Observing that MSMEs are important members of domestic and international supply chains, Suman Bery, vice chairperson, NITI Aayog, urged prioritizing technology adoption, access to affordable finance, skilling & regulatory reforms, and increased participation of female workforce to achieve overall competitiveness of the sector.
