United Nations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave Monday a clarion call for a ‘global people’s movement’ to bring about a behavioral transformation to deal with climate change as he made a path-breaking pledge to more than double India’s non-fossil fuel target to 450 gigawatts (GW).
In his Independence Day speech, Narendra Modi had announced that India will produce 175 GW of non-fossil fuel as part of its commitment to the ‘Paris Climate’ agreement.
Monday’s announcement during Modi’s speech at the global climate summit goes well beyond the pledge of 175 GW. It comes a day after Modi and US President Donald Trump shared the stage at a gala event in Houston and displayed Sunday a close friendship and a common vision on fighting terrorism.
But the US and India differ on the issue of climate change. Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris climate deal in 2017 and blamed India and China for his decision. He said the agreement was unfair as it would have made the US pay for nations which benefited the most from the deal.
“We must accept that if we have to overcome a serious challenge like climate change, then what we are doing at the moment is just not enough,” Modi told world leaders at the summit organised by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres here.
“The time for talks is over. The world needs to act now,” Modi asserted in the presence of President Trump, who made an unscheduled appearance at the summit.
Modi said India would increase the share of non-fossil fuel and by 2022. “We will increase our renewable energy capacity to much beyond 175 GW and we are committed to take it further to 450 GW,” Modi told the gathering.
The Climate Action Summit aims to boost action to implement the ‘Paris Agreement’, which was signed in 2015.
“What we need is a global people’s movement to bring about behavioural change,” the Indian Prime Minister said.
“The respect for nature, the judicious use of resources, reducing our needs and living within our means has all been important aspects of both our traditions and present day efforts. And therefore India today has come not just to talk about the seriousness of this issue, but to present a practical approach and a roadmap.
“We believe that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching. In India we have made plans to make our transport sector green through e-mobility. India is also working to considerably increase the proportion of the biofuel blend in petrol and diesel,” added Narendra Modi.
A recent study has found that India and China, that faced the highest burden of death from air pollution, will reap the biggest health benefits of a robust climate policy aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Modi also said India is also focusing on the use of compressed bio gas and his government has provided clean cooking gas to 150 million families, thus improving the health of the environment, of women and children.
Talking about his government’s ambitious ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ for water conservation, rainwater harvesting and for the development of water resources, Modi said India will spend USD 50 billion on the project in the next few years.
PTI
