Tamil Nadu launches district-level decarbonisation plans

Chennai: To achieve low-carbon and climate-resilient development, the state govt has launched district-level decarbonisation action plans, along with a digital climate action tracker.The initiative, a collaboration involving the state, Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company and Vasudha Foundation, aims to drive climate-smart growth across the state by adopting clean energy solutions, transforming mobility systems, and enhancing carbon sequestration through nature-based interventions.State forest secretary Supriya Sahu said decarbonisation means reducing or eliminating carbon emissions, a goal that can be achieved by switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Replacing thermal power generation with solar energy would substantially cut carbon emissions, and promoting electric mobility can help reduce pollution from the transport sector.Officials said the state's decarbonisation strategy rests on two key pillars — transitioning to renewable energy sources and expanding afforestation efforts to sequester carbon. Increasing forest and green cover, including mangroves and seagrass ecosystems, will help absorb more carbon from the atmosphere.It will initially be implemented in The Nilgiris, Virudhunagar, Coimbatore, and Ramanathapuram districts, which together contributed 10.38 per cent to Tamil Nadu's gross state domestic product (GSDP) for 2022–23.Studies estimate that up to 92 per cent of projected emissions in these districts can be mitigated by 2050 through clean energy adoption, improved industrial efficiency, sustainable mobility, and ecosystem restoration. Additionally, about 2.97 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent could be sequestered by 2050 through forest restoration, agroforestry, and coastal ecosystem rejuvenation.The Tamil Nadu Climate Action Tracker, an integrated digital platform, will monitor emissions, track progress, and support evidence-based policy decisions to guide the state toward its net-zero vision.