The Supreme Court has called for a collaborative approach to tackle carbon emissions from India’s power generation sector, directing the Ministry of Power to convene a joint meeting with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to devise a comprehensive action plan. In a July 22 order, Justices P.S. Narasimha and A.S. Chandurkar emphasized the need for policymakers to align with ground realities to achieve short- and long-term emission reduction goals.

“All stakeholders must be on the same platform to discuss, formulate, and implement a systematic plan to address carbon emissions in power generation,” the bench stated, highlighting the sector’s 8% contribution to India’s emissions, as noted by the amicus curiae. The court, hearing a plea stemming from a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order on climate considerations in environmental clearances, impleaded the CEA and CERC as respondents and issued notices.

The court’s directive follows its February 21, 2025, order recognizing climate change as a global crisis driving rising temperatures, erratic weather, and extreme events like floods and heatwaves. The bench stressed the urgency of coordinated efforts across power generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as regulatory bodies, to mitigate emissions. The Ministry of Power must submit a joint affidavit within four weeks, detailing the legal framework and action plan, with the case set for review on August 19.

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The amicus curiae’s submissions highlighted emissions from construction (30%), crop residue management (3%), and waste management, alongside power generation. The Centre’s counsel referenced steps outlined by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, including renewable energy targets and stricter emission norms. However, the court underscored the need for a unified strategy to ensure accountability and effectiveness, aligning with India’s 2070 net-zero goal and its updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

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