Searching appropriate system boundary for accounting India's emission inventory for the responsibility to reduce carbon emissions

Abstract

This paper explores the features of accounting for the national carbon emission inventory under four different system boundaries, including the presently operational territorial production-based accounting (PBA) practised by the UNFCCC. Using a recently published input-output table with the base year for 2013–2014, the study calculates India's ‘Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)’ to the mitigation of carbon emissions using production-based, consumption-based, sharing-based and equity-based accounting. The study finds India as a net importer of carbon emissions, especially for its high emission-intensive capital and energy goods import such that the country is bearing the minimum burden of emission reduction responsibility. However, the study intends to analyse this burden of responsibility in terms of the criteria of justice and effectiveness and addresses the future policy priorities for India to become a net exporter of industrial goods. We recommend India for supporting and implementing an alternative system boundary of emission inventory accounting which would be more consistent with the provisions of 'equity' subscribed under the UNFCCC while at the same time, helpful for achieving the climate goals by appropriately trace and track the sources of ‘carbon leakage’.