Supreme Court Calls for Joint Action Plan to Cut Power Sector Emissions

The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Power to convene a joint meeting with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to formulate a unified plan to curb carbon emissions in the power generation sector.

A bench comprising Justices P. S. Narasimha and A. S. Chandurkar emphasised the urgent need for all stakeholders, ranging from policymakers and regulators to those involved in power generation, transmission, and distribution, to work together on a coordinated strategy to reduce emissions. The directive was issued in an order dated July 22.

“In order to address the issue of carbon emissions arising out of power generation, we deem it necessary that all stakeholders must be on the same platform to discuss, formulate and implement the plan systematically and consistently for achieving short-term and long-term goals,” the bench noted.

The order came while the Court was hearing a plea linked to a ruling by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had earlier called for environmental clearances to take climate-related concerns into account more seriously.

In its ruling, the Court also issued notices to the CEA and CERC, formally impleading them as respondents in the matter. It instructed the Ministry of Power to file a joint affidavit, within four weeks, detailing the existing legal framework and outlining a plan of action to tackle carbon emissions from the power sector. The matter will be heard next on August 19.

The bench referred to its earlier order dated February 21, 2025, in which it underscored climate change as an 'existential global predicament,' citing its cascading effects including extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves.

According to data submitted in the case, power generation contributes around 8 percent to carbon emissions, while other contributors include construction activities (30 percent), crop residue burning (3 percent), and waste management, among others.

The Centre’s counsel also referenced an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which outlines current efforts to regulate emissions from the power sector.

The Court’s directive signals a push for greater accountability and coordination across key institutions in tackling emissions from one of the country’s most carbon-intensive sectors.