India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced on Monday at the COP 26 climate change summit that his country has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2070.
According to the Prime Minister, India would increase its clean energy sector, generate half of its electricity from renewable sources, and reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030. The government will also boost its non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 gigawatts, up from 450 gigawatts previously. Renewable energy would also provide half of India’s electricity.
The net-zero goal of 2070 is far later than that of other big polluters. China has established a goal of 2060, whereas the UK, US, and EU have set a goal of 2050. He told the gathering that the wealthy countries would have to shoulder a larger share of the burden.
He stated that India is committed to reducing its carbon intensity (a measure of carbon emissions produced per dollar of GDP) by 45%. He also emphasised earlier efforts to boost India’s clean energy contribution and decarbonize its railway system.
He called for a global push to adopt sustainable lifestyles in place of “mindless and destructive consumption.”
He said: “It is India’s expectation that the world’s developed nations make $1 trillion available as climate finance as soon as possible.”
“Justice would demand that those nations that have not kept their climate commitments should be pressured.”
“India is the only big economy in the world that has delivered in both letter and spirit on its Paris commitments.”
The UK’s aims at the conference include steering the globe away from coal, which is considered the dirtiest fossil fuel. The talks, according to Cop26 President Alok Sharma, are the moment when “coal power should be consigned to history,” but the G20 countries have yet to agree on a timeline for phasing it out.
India is not the only country that opposes coal power phase-out proposals; Japan and Australia argue that high-efficiency coal-fired energy plants should be considered clean enough to qualify for green funding.