MoEFCC and CSIR-IIP Experts Meet to Advance National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System

India has intensified its efforts to strengthen climate transparency, greenhouse gas accounting and emissions reporting systems following the successful submission of its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR-1) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

As part of these efforts, a three-day national knowledge-sharing workshop on the National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory was jointly organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) at CSIR-IIP in Dehradun from 20 to 22 May 2026.

The workshop brought together scientists, policymakers, technical experts, research institutions and industry representatives to discuss improvements in India’s greenhouse gas inventory systems, emissions accounting methodologies and preparation for future international climate reporting obligations.

India Expanding Role in Global Climate Action

As one of the world’s largest developing economies, India has increasingly emphasized its commitment to global climate action while balancing developmental and energy security priorities.

The submission of the first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement framework marks an important milestone in India’s climate governance and transparency commitments.

The Biennial Transparency Reports are part of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) established under the Paris Agreement, requiring countries to regularly report:

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Climate mitigation actions

• Progress toward climate targets

• Adaptation measures

• Financial and technological support

Experts say robust national GHG inventory systems are critical for ensuring credible climate reporting and informed policy-making.

Workshop Focused on Energy and Industrial Emissions Accounting

The Dehradun workshop focused particularly on greenhouse gas accounting in the Energy sector and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sector, two of the most significant contributors to national emissions inventories.

The event brought together experts from several prominent institutions including:

• CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR)

• Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI)

• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

• IIT-Indian School of Mines (IIT-ISM), Dhanbad

• National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)

• Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE)

• Jadavpur University

The collaborative approach reflects India’s growing emphasis on integrating scientific research, industry participation and policy coordination into climate reporting systems.

Importance of Accurate Emissions Accounting Highlighted

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Harender Singh Bisht, Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, who stressed the importance of accurate emissions accounting and the adoption of sustainable technologies to support climate mitigation efforts.

He highlighted that credible greenhouse gas inventories are essential for:

• Climate policy planning

• International reporting obligations

• Emission reduction strategies

• Industrial sustainability

• Long-term energy transition planning

Sessions during the workshop were chaired by senior officials and experts including:

• Sharath Kumar Pallerla, Advisor, MoEFCC

• Ajay Raghava, Additional Director, MoEFCC

• Professor Amit Garg, IIM Ahmedabad

• Dr. Sunil Kumar Pathak, Chief Scientist, CSIR-IIP

The discussions focused on India’s reporting responsibilities under the UNFCCC and challenges associated with developing robust, transparent and country-specific emissions data systems.

Preparation for India’s Second Biennial Transparency Report

One of the central themes of the workshop was preparation for India’s upcoming Second Biennial Transparency Report (BTR-2), scheduled for submission by the end of 2026.

Experts engaged in technical and brainstorming sessions aimed at improving data collection methodologies, emissions estimation techniques and institutional coordination mechanisms.

Special emphasis was placed on developing country-specific emission factors tailored to India’s industrial and energy sectors rather than relying solely on global default values.

Experts say country-specific emission factors can significantly improve the accuracy and credibility of national greenhouse gas inventories.

Key Sectors Discussed During Technical Sessions

The workshop included detailed discussions on emissions accounting across multiple sectors, particularly those with significant contributions to India’s overall emissions profile.

These included:

Energy Sector

• Road transportation emissions

• Pipeline transportation

• Fuel combustion systems

• Ethanol blending impacts

Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU)

• Iron and steel production

• Industrial process emissions

• Fugitive emissions from mining and fuel systems

Participants also discussed methodologies for identifying and reporting “key categories” — sectors with particularly large or uncertain emissions contributions.

Ethanol Blending and Energy Transition Discussed

One of the notable discussion areas involved the role of ethanol blending in transportation fuels and its potential contribution to reducing fossil fuel imports and emissions.

Experts examined how increased ethanol blending aligns with India’s broader goals of:

• Energy security

• Reduced crude oil imports

• Cleaner transportation fuels

• Lower carbon emissions

• Rural economic development through biofuel production

Officials linked these discussions to the Government of India’s broader vision of achieving “Viksit Bharat 2047,” aimed at transforming India into a developed nation by its centenary year of independence.

Enhanced Transparency Framework Under Paris Agreement

The workshop also highlighted the significance of the Enhanced Transparency Framework established under the Paris Agreement.

The framework aims to create a common system through which countries regularly report and track their climate actions and progress.

For developing countries like India, experts noted that transparency systems are becoming increasingly important not only for international reporting but also for attracting climate finance, supporting technology cooperation and strengthening domestic climate governance.

Officials acknowledged that building robust emissions inventory systems remains a technically demanding process requiring continuous institutional strengthening and scientific collaboration.

Challenges in Greenhouse Gas Inventory Preparation

Participants also discussed several ongoing challenges in preparing comprehensive national greenhouse gas inventories.

These include:

• Data availability and consistency

• Sector-specific measurement complexities

• Emissions estimation uncertainties

• Institutional coordination challenges

• Capacity-building requirements

• Need for advanced monitoring systems

Experts emphasized the importance of improving scientific methodologies and expanding technical expertise to ensure reliable long-term climate reporting systems.

India Plans Timely Submission of Future Climate Reports

The workshop concluded with deliberations on ensuring timely submission of India’s future Biennial Transparency Reports.

Officials discussed preparations for:

• BTR-2 submission by the end of 2026

• BTR-3 submission by 2028

The discussions reflected India’s increasing institutional readiness to meet international climate reporting commitments under evolving global climate governance systems.

India Balancing Development and Climate Commitments

India continues to maintain that climate action must remain consistent with developmental priorities and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities under international climate agreements.

As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India faces the challenge of balancing:

• Economic growth

• Energy demand expansion

• Industrial development

• Poverty reduction

• Climate mitigation commitments

Experts say strengthening national greenhouse gas inventory systems is essential for helping India make informed decisions regarding sustainable development pathways and future decarbonisation strategies.

Scientific Collaboration Supporting Climate Governance

The workshop demonstrated the growing role of scientific institutions, universities, industry bodies and policy agencies in supporting India’s climate governance architecture.

Officials believe stronger collaboration between research organisations and government institutions will be critical for improving emissions data quality, enhancing transparency and supporting evidence-based climate policymaking.

The event concluded with the inauguration of a newly constructed selfie point at CSIR-IIP following the workshop proceedings.