Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is going to increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 175 GW by 2022 and will further take it to 450 GW.

He was speaking to the world leaders who had gathered in New York for the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Climate Action Summit.

The Summit is being called by UNSG António Guterres to ramp up climate actions worldwide.

Modi said, “We must accept that if we have to overcome a serious challenge like climate change, then what we are doing now is just not enough. What is needed today, is a comprehensive approach which covers everything from education to values, and from lifestyle to developmental philosophy.”

According to the recent Q2 2019 India Solar market update published by Mercom India, renewable energy capacity additions crossed 120 GW mark (including large hydro) and accounted for nearly 35.4% of India’s capacity mix at the end of June 2019.

The Indian prime minister expressed that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching. Speaking on the occasion, Modi informed the world leaders that India has launched the Jal Jeevan (water life) mission for the conservation of water, rainwater harvesting and for the development of water resources. India is planning to spend approximately $50 million (₹3.5 billion) on Jal Jeevan in the next few years, informed the PM.

The prime minister further said that during the occasion of India’s 73^rdIndependence Day celebration, India called for a people’s movement to end the menace of single-use plastic. He expressed hope that this will create awareness at a global level about the harmful effects of single-use plastic.

“On the International forum, almost 80 countries have joined our International Solar Alliance (ISA) campaign. In order to make our infrastructure disaster resilient, India is launching a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure,” said the PM inviting UN member states to join the coalition.

Having the key focus on raising ambition and accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement, the Climate Action Summit focuses on nine interdependent tracks, which are led by 19 countries and are supported by international organizations.

Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres shed light on the significance of science and technology and its use as a powerful tool in combating climate change.

“The climate crisis is caused by us and the solutions must come from us. We have the tools, technology is on our side, readily available technological substitutions already exist for more than 70% of today’s emissions”, he added.

Image credit: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.