India Won’t Mandate 20–28°C AC Temperature Range Before 2050, Says Environment Minister

India will not immediately enforce the proposed standard temperature range of 20 to 28 degrees Celsius for air conditioners. Such a mandate is unlikely to be implemented before 2050, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Environment Bhupender Yadav said on Friday. 

Speaking at the India Climate Summit in New Delhi, Yadav acknowledged the need for long-term planning and infrastructure development before such energy efficiency norms can become binding. “I don’t think this will come immediately as the capacities are needed to be built over time,” he said. 

His comments come as the Bureau of Energy Efficiency continues to draft a framework aimed at standardising default temperature settings on air conditioners in order to improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption. 

While the proposal is part of a broader effort to tackle rising energy demand in a warming country, Yadav stressed that the timeline must align with India’s readiness. Any enforcement, he indicated, would likely take place only after mid-century. 

During his address, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change used the occasion to reiterate India’s consistent position on climate responsibility and equity. “India has been a part of the solution, not the problem,” Yadav said, taking aim at developed countries for their historical contribution to global emissions. 

“The current rise in global temperatures is largely due to the carbon emissions from developed countries. Their industrial growth and consumption-heavy lifestyles have contributed the most, and their per capita energy consumption remains the highest,” he added. 

Yadav also called for developed nations to take the lead in financing climate action in the Global South. “Those who have emitted the most must now step forward to ensure climate finance for developing countries,” he said. 

Nonetheless, he noted that India has taken significant steps on its own. “Even without enough international support, we have strengthened our domestic capacity through adaptation programmes and initiatives like Mission LiFE and the ‘One Tree for Mother’ movement.” 

India, he said, remains firmly committed to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and has positioned itself as a global leader in green energy and climate resilience. He pointed to the establishment of international coalitions such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as evidence of India’s proactive leadership. 

“India’s voice in the climate discourse is one of responsibility and innovation,” Yadav concluded. “We are doing our part—constructively and decisively.”