India leads G20 on green growth and climate action: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the Red Fort on the 78th anniversary of Independence Day in New Delhi, Thursday, August 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)

3 minutes of reading Last update: August 15, 2024 | 18:04 IST

Highlighting his government’s efforts in planning for climate action and green growth, the Prime Minister said India is the only country in the G20 group of nations that has already achieved its climate change target ahead of the deadline.

“I would like to highlight the achievements of my countrymen. What the G20 nations failed to achieve, our people have achieved. If any G20 country has achieved its Paris Agreement targets ahead of time, it is only my country, my Bharat,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after hoisting the national flag in his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort.

India has reduced the emission intensity of its GDP (the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP) by 33 per cent between 2005 and 2019. This was India’s first nationally committed contribution (NDC) under the 2015 Paris Agreement at COP21. The Centre claimed that the target was achieved 11 years early. Under the same NDC, India has also achieved its target of adding non-fossil energy sources, which includes renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydropower, as well as green fuels such as ethanol and green hydrogen.

“In the renewable energy sector, we have exceeded our set target. The target that we set for renewable energy by 2030 was achieved in 2021-2022. We talked about 20 percent ethanol blending; we also achieved that five years ahead of schedule,” the prime minister said.

The Centre’s ethanol-to-gasoline programme has proven to be a huge success when it comes to gasoline, with E20 gasoline (gasoline with 20 per cent ethanol added) now being sold at more than 1,900 gas stations across the country.

The Prime Minister said the country aims to become a global hub through Green Hydrogen Mission. Policies have been formulated quickly and their implementation is going on fast. Bharat is committed to promoting green hydrogen as a new source of energy, the Prime Minister said.

Last year, the Union cabinet approved an initial outlay of Rs 19,500 crore for the National Hydrogen Mission, which the Prime Minister inaugurated in his 75th Independence Day speech in 2021. The mission will have four components to boost domestic production of green hydrogen and promote the production of electrolysers — a key component for making green hydrogen. The initial target is to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

The Prime Minister said that these new sectors, which will drive green growth in the country, will also create green jobs. “These actions address concerns about climate change and global warming and at the same time open up significant opportunities for green jobs. Therefore, as the importance of green jobs increases in the near future, to leverage this opportunity and provide employment to our youth, we must focus on promoting and developing the green jobs sector,” the Prime Minister said.

First published: August 15, 2024 | 18:04 IST