CM Bhupendra Patel: Gujarat determined to be Net Zero by 2070

Chief minister, Bhupendra Patel, on Monday said that the state is determined to take the lead in PM Modi's vision of 'Net Zero by 2070' and make the state Net Zero by the deadline. Net Zero means a major decline in dependence on fossil fuel and the use of renewable energy sources.

"This year, we allocated Rs 910 crore in the budget to climate change. Every year, we increased the budget and scope of work for this department," said Patel. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the 'Building a Climate-Resilient Gujarat' event at Science City on Monday morning.

Forest and climate change minister Kiritsinh Rana, MoS Jagdish Vishwakarma and education minister Jitu Vaghani were also at the event. Vaghani said the exhibition on innovations relating to climate change will continue for three days at Science City. Rana said the mission for climate resilience is to create a new cadre of young warriors who can change habits and innovate to mitigate the effects of climate change.

S J Haider, ACS (education), said climate change is part of the state school curriculum, and a special incentive has been announced for green startups.

On the occasion, a grant of Rs 1.5 crore to Gujarat University for establishing a Centre of Excellence was announced along with MoUs with major educational institutes. About 6,000 students of schools and colleges were given a Rs 12,000 subsidy for purchase of electric vehicles (EVs).