Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India will become net zero by 2070
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a five-fold strategy for India to play its part in helping the world get closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the first day of the global climate meet in Glasgow.
Several world leaders have descended or would turn up in Glasgow for the 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, starting November 1, 2021.
The prime minister euphemistically termed his scheme as ‘Panchamrita’ meaning the ‘five ambrosia’.
‘Panchamrita’ is a traditional method of mixing five natural foods — milk, ghee, curd, honey and jaggery. These are used in Hindu and Jain worship rituals. It is also used as a technique in Ayurveda.
Modi’s ‘Panchamrita’ promises include:
He also said it was common knowledge that the promises made till now on climate finance were useless.
“When we all are increasing our ambitions on climate action, the world’s ambition could not stay the same on climate finance as was agreed at the time of Paris,” he said.
Modi began his address by saying that the 2015 Paris CoP (where the Paris Agreement was signed) was not a summit for him but a sentiment.
“At Paris, India was making promises not to the world but to itself and 1.3 billion Indians,” he said.
“We are 17 per cent of the world’s population but contribute only five per cent of emissions. Yet, we have left no stone unturned in doing our bit to fight climate change,” Modi said.
He then presented what he said was ‘India’s track record’.
India was fourth as far as installed renewable energy capacity was concerned.
A major part of the world’s commuters travelled on the Indian Railways. The Railways has pledged to make itself net zero by 2030. “This will result in an annual 60 million tonnes reduction in emissions,” he said.
“We initiated the International Solar Alliance for solar energy. We have also set up the coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure for climate adaptation. This is an important and sensitive step to save thousands of lives,” the prime minister noted.
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