New Delhi, April 29 (IANS). Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said India is one of the best performing countries globally in action against climate change and has achieved its renewable energy target eight years ahead of schedule. The country is now aiming to achieve 500 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030.
In his keynote address at the dialogue on ‘Promoting Resilience to Climate Change’ in the national capital, the Minister highlighted India’s strong performance in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), as India has consistently been among the top three among the G20 countries.
He informed that earlier the plan was to develop 20 GW of solar power capacity in 9-10 years, but after the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, it was increased to 100 GW and achieved on time. He further said that India has now set an ambitious target of 500 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030.
Recalling India’s leadership at Paris COP 21, Goyal said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India brought together developed, developing and underdeveloped countries and reached a unanimous conclusion, which gave countries the freedom to set their own goals. He said that India’s image evolved from a negatively minded country to a global leader.
Highlighting India’s growing global economic engagement, he said many countries and regions are actively interacting with India for trade and economic partnerships. He said that talks are also ongoing with 12 other countries and regions including Peru, Chile, Canada, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and its neighboring countries, Brazil and its neighboring countries, Russia and the Eurasia Region and Israel.
The Union Minister further said that over the last decade, climate action in India has come to be seen as an economically viable proposition rather than a compulsion. He said that despite the non-fulfillment of funding and technology commitments by developed countries, India has performed commendably and is leading efforts to combat climate change while maintaining growth. He also said that leading companies in the renewable energy sector are contributing to job creation, economic activities and future export potential in the fields of capital goods, power, technology and services.
–IANS
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