PM resists 2050 net-zero goal pressure, commits to 2070

Sets 2030 Target For Renewables, GHG Reductions

- Vishwa Mohan

Glasgow: PM Narendra Modi on Monday committed India to becoming a ‘carbon neutral’ country through a ‘net zero’ goal by 2070, the first time such a goal has been set for the country, along with major targets on renewables and reductions in greenhouse gases by 2030.

While he announced a ‘net zero’ goal year, the PM resisted pressure for a 2050 deadline as was being pushed as a COP26 target by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It is also 10 years more than the 2060 deadline announced by China. But given the clamour for major emitters to set a net zero goal, the PM’s pronouncement was broadly welcomed as a significant step.

Modi held out five goals (panchamrit) to underline India’s commitment to containing climate change in his speech here setting out India’s national targets even as he appealed to world leaders to make ‘lifestyle change’ a global movement – World LIFE — by shunning “mindless consumption” and adopting mindful utilisation of resources. Hitting out at developed countries for their unfulfilled promises of mobilising climate finance of $100 billion per year by 2020, Modi reminded them of their responsibilities and asked them to mobilize $1 trillion to support developing countries.

‘RAISE CLIMATE FINANCE’

India with a population of 125 crore constitutes 17% of global population but its contribution to the emission has only been 5%

India is the only big economy that has worked and delivered on the Paris commitment in letter & spirit

Old climate goals won’t work, developed nations must commit $1 trillion for finance & tech transfer