Nearly a third of India’s population remains in severe poverty with limited access to electricity, and its government sees little chance of boosting their prospects without turning to cheap and plentiful coal. Modi highlighted that India has a capacity of 4GW and has set a target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022. “They also have the most room to make the cuts and make the strongest impact”.
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The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities must remain the bedrock of our collective enterprise across all areas – mitigation, adaptation and means for implementation. “I think the hindrance in relations between the two countries is counter productive and it should be removed”, the Prime Minister said while talking to the media persons here on his arrival from Paris. “We are meeting at a defining juncture; a crossroads that offers both a historic opportunity to act against the threat of Climate Change, and a strong global will to take that course”, he said.
Earlier, while inaugurating the India Pavilion at the Conference of Party (CoP21), Modi said, climate change “is the result of global warming that came from the prosperity and progress of an industrial age powered by fossil fuels”.
“I want to emphasize that we agree that Paris must recognize and protect the ability of countries like India to pursue the priorities of development, growth, and poverty eradication”.
Alluding to what rich nations needed to do to protect the environment, he made it clear that a pact reached in Paris must be one of partnership, where resources and technology are shared with poor and developing economies, so as not to deprive people who live between want and hope.
Modi also referred to lifestyles in an article in the Opinion section of Monday’s edition of the “Financial Times”. He added: “They must fulfill their commitment in a credible, transparent and meaningful manner”.
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Modi also unveiled a book authored by him on innovations, “Convenient Action”. So, we need an ambitious technology initiative, driven by a public goal, not just market incentives. This includes intellectual property. We are replacing diesel with clean energy, and building 50 new metro railways, he promised, as well have enough green cover to absorb 2.5bn worth of carbon dioxide. “We welcome India’s leadership on this issue”, Obama said in his remarks ahead of the meeting. The program aims to “reinvigorate and accelerate global clean energy innovation with the objective to make clean energy widely affordable”.
