Textile companies to draw up plan to cut emissions

The government has identified textiles as a high emission intensity sector and asked the industry to prepare a roadmap for reducing emission intensity and carbon dioxide by 2030 along with the expected financial implications.

India wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and keep global warming below +1.5 degrees Celsius.

"The roadmap would include ways to adapt to protect communities and natural habitats, especially the ones threatened by climate change," said an official.

India relies heavily on coal and natural gas for electricity and heat production and that increases the carbon footprint of each apparel product.

Globally, the textile and garment sector accounts for 6-8% of total carbon emissions, or some 1.7 billion tonnes in carbon emissions per year.

The decision was taken after an inter-ministerial committee met last month to discuss the implementation of the roadmap on energy efficiency with a focus on sectors with high emission intensity such as transport.

"Carbon dioxide reduction targets and respective measures to achieve these targets would be a key feature of this roadmap to improve the sustainability of textile production," the official said.