Why India’s carbon emissions could rise amid global fall

Why in News

The Global Carbon Budget projects a 0.4% fall in global fossil carbon dioxide emissions in 2026, alongside a 4.4% rise in India’s emissions.

Prelims Pointers

• Annual emissions are the quantity released during a year.
• Atmospheric concentration is the amount accumulated in the atmosphere, usually expressed in parts per million (ppm).
• Three measures of emissions:
  1. Total emissions measure the overall quantity released.
  2. Per-capita emissions divide emissions by population.
  3. Emissions intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) measures emissions per unit of economic output.
• Carbon sinks, including vegetation and oceans, absorb CO₂.

Prelims Traps

• “Photosynthesis adds CO₂ to the carbon cycle in the same way as respiration.” This is incorrect. Photosynthesis absorbs CO₂, while respiration, decomposition and volcanic activity release it. (UPSC Prelims 2011, 2014)
• “Oceanic phytoplankton have no role in carbon storage.” This is incorrect. Their photosynthesis takes up CO₂, contributing to the ocean’s role as a carbon sink. (UPSC Prelims 2011, 2012)