India on track to meet its Paris commitments: Modi

Mr Modi said that countries must not lose sight of the past even as they look to set their climate targets even higher. “We must not only revise our ambitions, but also review our achievements against targets already set. Only then can our voices be credible for future generations,” he said, adding that India’s concerted efforts have led to a 21% reduction in its CO2 emissions from the 2005-06 levels.

“Our solar capacity has grown from 2.63 gigawatts in 2014 to 36 gigawatts in 2020. Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. It will reach 175 gigawatts before 2022, but we now have an even more ambitious target of 450 gigawatts by 2030,” he said at the conference, marking the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. “We have also succeeded in expanding our forest cover and safeguarding our biodiversity. And, on the world stage, India has pioneered two major initiatives: The International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mr Modi said.

In his message, he also said that “In 2047, India will celebrate 100 years as a modern, independent nation. To all my fellow residents of this planet, I make a solemn pledge today. Centennial India will not only meet its own targets, but will also exceed your expectations.”

The Summit highlighted the commitment to net-zero emissions and boosting ambition in climate finance, and resilience and adaptation, the organisers said in a statement. It also featured examples of countries producing concrete near-term plans and policies to deliver on their longer-term climate ambition. Other speakers at the event included UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma. Dozens of other world leaders also participated in the webinar. The conference provided a global platform for voices from the business community, sub-national governments as well as civil society, including youth, indigenous, and faith-based climate champions, the organisers said. The program was aired live on www.climateambitionsummit2020.org and via UNTV in six UN languages.

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