 "Narendra Modi")
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from the Red Fort on 78th Independence Day, in New Delhi, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)
Highlighting the efforts of his government towards 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 wish to highlight the achievements of my countrymen. What the G20 nations could not accomplish, our citizens have achieved. If any G20 country has met its Paris Accord targets ahead of time, it is only my country, my Bharat,” PM Narendra Modi said after hoisting the national flag in his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort.
India has reduced the emissions 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 determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement in 2015 at COP21. The Centre claimed this target has been achieved 11 years in advance. Under the same NDC, India has also achieved its target of adding non-fossil fuel energy sources, which include renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydro power, as well as green fuels such as ethanol and green hydrogen.
“In the renewable energy sector, we have surpassed our set target. The target which we had set for renewable energy by 2030 was completed in 2021-22. We had talked about 20 per cent blending in ethanol; that as well we have completed five years ahead of time,” the PM said.
The Centre’s ethanol blending programme has been a major success for petrol, with E20 petrol (petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol) now selling at more than 1,900 pumps across the country.
The PM said the country is aiming to become a global hub through the Green Hydrogen Mission. Policies have been rapidly formulated, and their implementation is progressing swiftly. Bharat is committed to advancing green hydrogen as a new energy source, the PM said.
The Union Cabinet last year approved an initial outlay of Rs 19,500 crore for the National Hydrogen Mission, which was launched by the Prime Minister in his speech on the 75th Independence Day in 2021. The mission will have four components aimed at enhancing the domestic production of green hydrogen and promoting the manufacturing of electrolysers – a key component for making green hydrogen. The initial target is to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
The PM said these new sectors, which will drive the green growth of the country, will also create green jobs. “These efforts address concerns about climate change and global warming, while also opening up significant opportunities for green jobs. Thus, as the importance of green jobs expands in the near future, to seize this opportunity and provide employment for our youngsters, we must focus on promoting and expanding the green job sector,” the PM said.
First Published: Aug 15 2024 | 6:04 PM IST
