India to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070

India will achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and reduce one billion tonnes of carbon emissions from the total projected emissions by 2030. The country will bring down the carbon intensity of its economy by more than 45 percent by 2030. Delivering the National Statement at the World Leaders' Summit of COP26 in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, India will bring its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and it will fulfill 50 percent of its energy requirement through renewable energy by 2030.

Mr Modi said the country constitutes 17 percent of the global population and its contribution to the emission has remained only five percent. But today, the entire world admits that India is the only major economy that has delivered on the Paris Agreement in letter and spirit. The Prime Minister added that the climate finance and transfer of low-cost technology become even more important when India has resolved to move forward with a new commitment and new energy. He said, India is responsible for just five percent of emissions and it is putting climate change at centre of its policies.

Talking about climate finance, the Prime Minister stressed the need to put pressure on those countries that have failed to deliver on their promises about climate finance. He said all climate finance promises have been empty ones so far and developed countries must ensure one trillion dollar climate finance at the earliest. Mr Modi also opined to track climate finance just like we track the progress of climate mitigation.

Mr Modi also said, instead of mindless and destructive consumption, mindful and deliberate utilization is the need of the hour, adding that the movement can bring in revolutionary changes in areas including agriculture, fishing, housing, hospitality, tourism, water management and energy. He also called for making lifestyle for the environment a global mission. On the sidelines of the COP26 World Leaders' Summit, Mr Modi met his UK counterpart Boris Johnson and the two leaders reviewed the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 priorities particularly in the trade and economy, people-to-people, health, defence and security areas. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in delivering the Enhanced Trade Partnership including steps taken towards the launch of FTA negotiations.

Briefing media in Glasgow, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said both leaders also discussed regional and global challenges including Afghanistan, Counter-Terrorism, Indo-Pacific, supply chain resilience and post-Covid global economic recovery. He added that Mr Modi reiterated India's commitment to closely work with the UK on climate finance, technology, innovation and green hydrogen. He also said, the UK Prime Minister has accepted Mr Modi's invitation to India saying that he would plan his visit as soon as the circumstances allow.