![FRANCE-PARIS-COP 21-FRANCE-INDIA-INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE-LAUNCH FRANCE-PARIS-COP 21-FRANCE-INDIA-INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE-LAUNCH](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/42-79676409.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
As world leaders gathered in Paris for the opening of the international climate conference on Nov. 30, excavators in a densely forested corner of eastern India were at work extracting coal at what in coming years is projected to become the biggest mine in Asia.
The Magadh project, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, is part of a massive push by the world’s third-largest carbon emitter to close the gap between the amount of coal it produces domestically and the amount it’s consuming, particularly for electricity generation, as its economy grows. India’s aim is to produce 1.5 billion metric tons of the fossil fuel by 2020, up about 600 million tons in 2012. (It currently consumes some 800 million metric tons a year.)
To make this happen, India will need to open the equivalent of a new coal mine every month until the end of this decade. That thirst for coal—the single biggest source of man-made carbon emissions—has made India a country to watch in Paris, where officials from around the world are meeting to try and hammer out a deal to slow rising global temperatures.
For India’s leaders, the expansion in coal generation is needed to power India’s growth and lift hundreds of millions of Indians out of poverty. One in five of India’s 1.3 billion people continue to live without access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency. For numerous others, power is spotty, with blackouts an everyday fact of life. Coal is dirty—unit by unit, more carbon is emitted burning coal than any other fossil fuel—but it is also cheap and easily available, with India home to the world’s fifth largest coal reserves. “Ultimately, coal-based power is cheaper,” India’s power minister, Piyush Goyal, said, while outlining India’s position at a U.N. meeting in September. “It provides the base load. It can be used to bundle with and to use more expensive renewable power with cheaper power and provides energy access which is the need of the hour.”
To help with the fight against climate change, India is planning, alongside its coal push, a significant expansion in the use of renewable energy sources such as solar. Unlike China, which last year set a target to reduce its fossil fuel pollution by 2030, India has not specified a cap on its emissions. Instead, India plans to improve what’s known as its emissions intensity by using fewer amounts of carbon to fuel its growth.
To do so, India aims add as much as 175 gigawatts in energy generation from renewable sources by 2022. At the start of the Paris summit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of a “solar alliance” made up of more than 120 countries. It is also planning to grow its forest cover absorb more carbon dioxide and implement new technologies to make its energy sector more efficient. “India is planning to add as much in renewable energy capacity as its entire [power] grid over the next 15 years,” says Navroz Dubash, a senior analyst who studies climate change policy at the Center for Policy Research, a New Delhi based think tank.
But even if everything goes to plan, that still means India—currently the world’s third-large emitter by total—will see its carbon emissions continue climbing in coming years. This presents a challenge for delegates in Paris as they try and forge a consensus for an agreement to keep temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (around 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the levels in pre-industrial times.
From India’s point of view, the burden should fall on the countries responsible for global warming, not developing nations that are only beginning to grow. Historically, India accounts for only 3% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since 1890, according to IEA figures. In per capita terms, India’s emissions stood at 1.6 metric tons in 2014—roughly 10% of the level for the U.S. and a quarter of the level for China. “China has said it will cap its emissions and likely phase out coal after having built a thousand-megawatt power plant a week for the last 15 years,” says Dubash. “China’s emissions are vastly more than India’s, with a population that is only a little bit more.”
Speaking in Paris as the climate conference opened, Modi said “climate justice” demanded that “developing countries should have enough room to grow.” “We hope advanced nations will assume ambitious targets and pursue them sincerely,” he said. “It is not just a question of historical responsibility. They also have the most room to make the cuts and make the strongest impact.”
India is also calling for greater support from developed countries like the U.S. to help developing nations slow emissions and adapt to climate change, a topic that came up on Dec. 1 at a panel discussion at India’s pavilion on the sidelines of the Paris conference. “India is doing as much as it can with its own resources,” India’s spokesman at the conference, Ajay Mathur, said. “With climate financing from the developed world, we can do so much more, much faster.”
India’s Elections: Snapshots From the World’s Biggest Vote
![Varanasi Votes In Final Round Of Indian Elections An Indian Muslim voter waits in line to vote at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election68.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Varanasi Votes In Final Round Of Indian Elections An Indian Muslim woman votes at a polling station on May 12, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election65.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![*** BESTPIX *** Candidates Campaign In Final Round Of Indian Elections Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi run as a helicopter carrying Modi takes off after a rally on May 10, 2014 in Robertsganj, near Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election58.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Candidates Campaign In Final Round Of Indian Elections Supporters of the Congress Party stand in fron of a poster showing Rahul Gandhi and his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi as they wait before a rally on May 10, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election59.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![AAP Leader And Anti-Corruption Activist Arvind Kejriwal Campaigns In Varanasi Veiled Muslim supporters of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wait for his convoy to pass during a rally by the leader on May 9, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election57.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP Leader Narendra Modi Rallies in Rohaniya Supporters run passed a banner showing BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally by the leader on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election51.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP leader Narendra Modi Greeted By Supporters BJP leader Narendra Modi gestures to supporters while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election50.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP leader Narendra Modi Greeted By Supporters Muslim residents watch the convoy of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he drives in the street on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election53.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP Leader Narendra Modi Greeted By Supporters BJP leader Narendra Modi greets supporters as he is surrounded by bodyguards while driving through the streets on May 8, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election46.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP Leader Narendra Modi Rallies in Rohaniya Supporters of BJP leader Narendra Modi cheer during his speech at a rally by the leader on May 8, 2014 in Rohaniya, near Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election52.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ladakh Locals Cast Their Vote For India's General Election Buddhist monks from the Drukpa lineage hold their voting cards as they wait outside a polling station to vote near the Hemis Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Hemis, Ladakh.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election40.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ladakh Locals Cast Their Vote For India's General Election Ladkahis wait inside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election42.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ladakh Locals Cast Their Vote For India's General Election Ladkahis wait outside a polling station to vote near the Thiksey Monastery on May 7, 2014 in Thiksey, Ladakh.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election41.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Locals Preparing for Voting in Ladakh Indian security force soldiers on election duty sit in a bus as they leave a central collection point to head for a polling station, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election37.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Locals Preparing for Voting in Ladakh Indian security force soldiers on election duty wait to leave a central collection point to head to secure polling stations, on May 6, 2014 in Leh, Ladakh.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election38.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BESTPIX BJP's Narendra Modi Campaigns In Punjab Villagers and supporters listen to a speech by BJP leader Narendra Modi at a rally on April 27, 2014 in Sidhuali near Lucknow.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP's Narendra Modi Campaigns In Punjab A disabled boy wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as he walks past a police checkpoint at a rally by Modi on April 25, 2014 in Bathinda, Punjab.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election29.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BJP's Narendra Modi Campaigns In Punjab An Indian Sikh man wears a mask of BJP leader Narendra Modi as they crowd to hear his speech on April 25, 2014 in Bathinder, Punjab.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Transgender Candidate Baseer Kinnar Runs Against Narendra Modi In Varanasi Transgender Candidate Hijra Guru Baseer Kinnar aka Kamala Kinnar speaks to a resident while campaigning in a Muslim neighbourhood on April 23, 2014 in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election35.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![*** BESTPIX *** AAP Leader Arvind Kejriwal Files His Nomination In Varanasi AAP leader and anti-corruption activist Arvin Kejriwal is surrounded by police bodyguards as he greets supporters from an open jeep on his way to file his nomination papers on April 23, 2014 in Varanasi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election27.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ruling Congress Party Hold Election Rally In Mumbai Supporters of India's ruling Congress Party listen during a speech by leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai,.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election23.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ruling Congress Party Hold Election Rally In Mumbai A supporter of India's ruling Congress Party wears a mask of leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally on April 20, 2014 in Mumbai.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Indians Cast Votes On Biggest Polling Day Indian women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BESTPIX Indians Cast Votes On Biggest Polling Day Indian women wait to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Indians Cast Votes On Biggest Polling Day An Indian woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Indians Cast Votes On Biggest Polling Day An Indian woman casts her ballot at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Indians Cast Votes On Biggest Polling Day Indian women arrive to vote at a polling station on April 17, 2014 in the Jodhpur District in the desert state of Rajasthan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![India Elections Rally An Indian family listens as Rahul Gandhi, leader of India's ruling Congress Party speaks at a rally on April 6, 2014 in New Delhi.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/india-election1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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