PM Narendra Modi attended the International Conference on the Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics, during which he launched the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) mobile app.
He said India is the only G20 country to have fulfilled, on time, the commitments it made at the COP-21 summit in Paris. Twelve years ago, India’s solar energy capacity stood at around 2 gigawatts; today it exceeds 160 gigawatts.
At the 2015 COP-21 summit in Paris, India had set three major environmental targets. The first was to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
The second was to generate around 40% of the country’s electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The third was to increase forest and tree cover to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Modi said: India is setting new benchmarks in environmental protection – 6 key points
- We are setting new benchmarks for environmental protection by taking the world along with us. Today, India is moving forward by weaving its ancient ideas on environmental protection into a modern vision.
- The responsibility for carbon emissions has often been unfairly placed on developing countries. The historical reality is that even today, India’s per capita carbon emissions are less than half the global average.
- Per capita carbon emissions in developed countries are six times higher than in India. India has consistently and firmly highlighted this fact on global forums.
- We have presented our traditions and their inherent strength to the world. Keeping this idea in mind, we launched the book Convenient Action – Continuity for Change during the COP21 summit held in Paris.
- We are setting new benchmarks in environmental protection by bringing the world together. These include the One Sun, One World, One Grid concept, as well as initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, CDRI, the Global Biofuel Alliance, the International Big Cat Alliance and Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).
- India’s first hydrogen train has been launched, and it is the world’s longest hydrogen train. This signals the beginning of a new era of clean transport. Over the past 12 years, the number of electric vehicles in the country has increased by around 950 times.
What is Paris COP-21?
Paris COP-21 was the 21st international conference held under the United Nations on climate change, taking place in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015.
Around 195 countries took part, and the Paris Agreement was adopted. Its objective was to keep the rise in the world’s average temperature well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Under this, each country set its own targets for reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
