Toward a low-carbon transition in India

Electricity sector policies should be designed not only to mitigate carbon emissions but also to reduce inequities In 2021, 40% of India’s global greenhouse gas emissions came from electricity generation, mainly powered by coal plants ( 1 ). Air pollution from these power plants, composed of predominantly sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, is one of the leading causes of respiratory and heart diseases in India, which result in ∼80,000 premature deaths annually ( 2 ). Understanding the impacts of electricity sector policies aimed at mitigating carbon emissions and air pollution is critical for addressing these climate and public health crises. On page 618 of this issue, Sengupta et al. ( 3 ) examine how carbon taxes, balancing electricity generation and consumption across larger regions, and sulfur-control regulations affect near-term costs and emissions of India’s electricity sector. They find that these policies can cause inequalities in air pollution exposure across different regions.