10:38     23 April 2021    

PM Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the launch of the ‘India-US climate and clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership’, which can be a template of green collaborations to help developing countries access affordable green finance and clean technologies.

PM Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the launch of the ‘India-US climate and clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership’, which can be a template of green collaborations to help developing countries access affordable green finance and clean technologies. The collaboration is expected to play an important role in helping India fulfil its ambitious renewable energy goal of reaching 450 GW by 2030. “Together, we will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and enable green collaborations,” said Modi while addressing a virtual summit on climate convened by US President Joe Biden and involving 40 world leaders. Some countries, including the US, Japan and Canada, also announced their enhanced climate action plans to substantially cut their carbon footprints by 2030. The aim of the summit is to galvanise efforts by major economies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meet the targets of the Paris Agreement to keep temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, and make efforts to keep it below 1.5°C rise. India though did not make any fresh commitment. And amid the clamour for ‘net-zero’ emission goal (emission minus reduction of GHG amounts to zero), where many stakeholders want India to pledge higher climate action targets, Modi said: “Despite our development challenges, we have taken many bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and bio-diversity. That is why we are among the few countries whose NDCs [nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement] are 2°C compatible.” “India’s per capita carbon footprint is 60% lower than the global average. It is because our lifestyle is still rooted in sustainable traditional practices," he added.