- Friday, April 19, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (1) made a brave announcement that the country will achieve net-zero target by 2070.
According to environmental experts, while India is doing more than most other nations, including China, to cut emissions, its pledge to reach zero-carbon emissions in another 49 years is “real climate action”.
ALSO READ: India will achieve net-zero target by 2070: Modi at COP26
The experts lauded Modi over his statement at the 26th Conference of Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cop26) in Glasgow, Scotland, saying by making the big promise, the Indian prime minister has pushed the ball to the court of the developed nations to fulfil their promised $1 trillion (£734 billion) of climate finance.
Sunita Narain, climate change activist and director general of Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said India has laid out its roadmap and targets of non-fossil fuel, renewable energy (RE) and reduction of carbon intensity are all stepping stones towards reaching one billion tonnes of carbon-emission reduction by 2030.
UK PM Boris Johnson hails Modi’s climate commitment at COP26
“RE target of 50 per cent, non-fossil fuel 500 GW; carbon intensity of 45 per cent are all pathways to get to 1 billion tonnes carbon emission reduction by 2030. India has laid out its roadmap; this is more than OECD and certainly what China has done. India enhanced NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) is a challenge to the world to step up,” she tweeted.
RE target of 50%; non-fossil fuel 500 GW; carbon intensity of 45% are all pathways to get to 1 billion tonne carbon emission reduction by 2030. India has laid out its roadmap; this is more than OECD and certainly what China has done. #COP26Glasgow
— Sunita Narain (@sunitanar) November 2, 2021
“We will reduce 1 billion tonnes by 2030; per capita will be 2.31 tonnes/as against US 9.4 t/per capita and China 9 t/per capita. No question that this is running the talk,” Narain tweeted.
India enhanced #NDC is a challenge to the world to step up. We will reduce 1 billion tonnes by 2030; 22% reduction in BAU; per capita will be 2.31 tonnes/as against US 9.4 t/per capita and China 9 t/per capita. No question that this is running the talk #COP26
— Sunita Narain (@sunitanar) November 2, 2021
She however added that to limit the 1.5-degree temperature rise, the world will have to go net zero by 2050.
“For the world to go net zero by 2050, China should go by 2040 and OECD countries by 2030. This is why net zero is inequitable and makes combating climate change unambitious and ineffective. We deserve better,” Narain said in another tweet.
Yes and for the world to go #netzero in 2050; China should go by 2040 and OECD countries by 2030. This is why #NetZero is an inequitable and makes combatting #climatechange unambitious and ineffective. We deserve better #COP26Glasgow https://t.co/KqxdI73pwy
— Sunita Narain (@sunitanar) November 2, 2021
Arunabha Ghosh, founder of Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi, said, “I want to congratulate PM Modi and India for making a bold statement for low-carbon development. India has clearly put the ball in the court of the developed world. This is real climate action.”
“Now, India demands USD 1 trillion of climate finance as soon as possible and will monitor not just climate action but deliver climate finance. Most importantly, India has called, once again, for a change in lifestyles. If we cannot fix how we live, we cannot fix the planet on which we live,” he added.
#COP26 #NetZeroIndia
India has now put the ball in the court of the developed world. India demands $1 trillion of #climatefinance as soon as possible and will monitor not just #climateaction, but delivered climate finance: @GhoshArunabha from Glasgow.📺 Watch 👇 pic.twitter.com/MP32EYB8G7
— CEEW (@CEEWIndia) November 1, 2021
Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, Delhi, said, “By announcing a commitment for achieving net zero targets by 2070, India has responded positively to the global call and it was the best climate action in Glasgow today.”
Delivering the National Statement at the @COP26 Summit in Glasgow. https://t.co/SdKi5LBQNM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2021
“The commitment of 500GW of renewable energy by 2030, which is more than twice the installed capacity of coal currently, should set the stage for a quick transformation of the energy sector, the kind of which hasn’t been witnessed so far. Ensuring that the new energy regime doesn’t bring the pitfalls of the current regime will be fundamental. Solar and wind are poised to emerge as the future in the net zero world,” she said.
Ajay Mathur, director general, International Solar Alliance, said reducing one billion tonnes of emissions by 2030 and expanding non-fossils capacity to 500 GW are enormous and transformative steps. “PM Modi cut through the rhetoric and delivered a big promise of climate action from India. Reducing 1 billion tonnes of emissions by 2030 and expanding non-fossils capacity to 500 GW are enormous and transformative steps.
“Fifty per cent of electricity generation from renewable energy sources speaks to India’s leadership and commitment to climate action. The Prime Minister has made bold announcements and led India from the front at the onset of the Glasgow meeting,” he said.
Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iForest (International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology), congratulated Modi over his statement and said these steps will go a long way in solving the climate crisis. “India’s announcement of an ambitious 2030 target and a net zero target is a big step for climate collaboration. I congratulate the PM for announcing this bold step which will go a long way in greening the Indian economy and solving the climate crisis,” he said.
Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, CEEW, said that by announcing the net zero timeline, the PM has also rolled out a red carpet to foreign and domestic investors who want to invest in India’s research and development, manufacturing and deployment of green technologies.
Ravi Singh, secretary general and chief executive officer, WWF-India, termed India’s five key commitment made at COP26 as “bold stand” which is a pathway towards low-carbon development.
“PM Modi has taken a bold stand in spelling out India’s commitments and global leadership at COP26. Together, the five commitments highlighted by the PM indicate India’s position and pathway in moving towards low carbon development and reducing climate vulnerability for its people,” PTI quoted him as saying.
