India is committed to fight climate change

Addressing COP27, Minister points to Indian initiatives in renewable energy, e-mobility, ethanol blended fuels, green hydrogen and the International Solar Alliance as evidence of the country’s commitment.

India is undertaking an arduous effort to fight climate change despite accounting for less than four per cent of the world’s cumulative emissions so far, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said.

Delivering the national statement at the UN climate summit in Egypt, Mr. Yadav said that India had responded to the call for increased ambition in the 2030 climate targets and had updated its Nationally Determined Contributions in August.

The Minister pointed out that the country has embarked on far-reaching new initiatives in renewable energy, e-mobility, ethanol blended fuels, and green hydrogen as an alternate energy source. It seeks to foster strong international cooperation through action and solutions-oriented coalitions like International Solar Alliance and the Coalition of Disaster Resilience Infrastructure, both of which were launched and nurtured by India, Mr. Yadav said. “This is a testimony to our ethos of collective action for global good,” he added.

Mr. Yadav mentioned that India would assume the presidency of the G20 in 2023 with the motto of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

Mr. Yadav underscored that Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20 in the presence of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, is at the heart of India’s vision of a safe planet. The mission is a pro-people and pro-planet effort that seeks to shift the world from mindless and wasteful consumption to mindful and deliberate utilisation of natural resources.