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Prime Minister Modi addresses the nation. (Photo: YouTube/Narendra Modi)
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, he said India's efforts to address the global challenge of climate change have “reassured and surprised” the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that India is the only G20 country to achieve the climate goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement ahead of schedule.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, he said India's efforts to address the global challenge of climate change have “reassured and surprised” the world.
“I want to tell the world about the power of our people. Our country and its people have achieved things that other G20 countries have not yet achieved.
“We have achieved the climate targets set in the Paris Agreement ahead of schedule. India is the only G20 country to do so and we are proud of that.
India has pledged to achieve 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel power generation capacity by 2030 as part of its latest national climate plan, or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“People in other countries look at me in surprise when they hear the word '500 gigawatts,'” Prime Minister Modi said.
He expressed confidence that India would achieve this goal.
“This is vital for humanity and will be a guarantee of a bright future for our children,” Modi said.
Currently, the country's power generation capacity is 446 gigawatts (GW), of which approximately 195 GW is non-fossil energy generation capacity.
Prime Minister Modi also outlined plans and initiatives to achieve the 2070 net-zero emissions target, including complete electrification of railways, Prime Minister Suryagarh Initiative and promotion of electric vehicles.
“India will become a global hub for green hydrogen through the Green Hydrogen Mission. We have formulated policies and are working rapidly in this direction.
The Prime Minister added that with this energy transition, a large number of “green job” opportunities will be created and “India intends to be the first to seize these opportunities”.
(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published by PTI)
