Prime Minister Modi on Thursday, April 22, announced that India and the United States were launching a clean energy agenda partnership. He said this while addressing the Leaders’ summit called by US President Joe Biden.
“President Biden and I are launching the “India-US climate and clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership”. Together, we will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies, and enable green collaborations,” he said while addressing the summit through a Video Link.
Though the Prime Minister made the announcement of a partnership with the US, the details are yet to be announced.
President Biden invited 40 world leaders to the Leaders Summit on Climate he hosts on April 22 and 23. President Biden took action his first day in office to return the United States to the Paris Agreement. Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would soon convene a leaders’ summit to galvanize efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis. The Leaders Summit on Climate will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action. It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.
In his speech, Modi said, “as a climate-responsible developing country, India welcomes partners to create templates of sustainable development in India. These can also help other developing countries, who need affordable access to green finance and clean technologies.”
Concrete action needed
Stating that concrete action is needed for humanity to combat Climate Change, Modi called for action at a high speed, on a large scale, and with a global scope. “We, in India, are doing our part. Our ambitious renewable energy target of 450 Gigawatts by 2030 shows our commitment,” he 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 are 2-degree-Celsius compatible,” the prime Minister said.
Sustainable traditional practices
The Prime Minister also mentioned that country’s per capita carbon footprint was 60 per cent lower than the global average. He attributed this to sustainable traditional practices. “So today, I want to emphasise the importance of lifestyle change in climate action. Sustainable lifestyles and a guiding philosophy of “Back to Basics” must be an important pillar of our economic strategy for the post-Covid era,” he said.
