Climate Summit 2021: Narendra Modi announces India-US clean energy initiative, pitches 'back to basics' philosophy

Addressing the Leaders’ Summit on Climate on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and the United States have decided to launch a joint clean energy initiative to help other developing countries with affordable access to green finance and clean technologies. Modi pitched for concrete action at a “high speed” and on a large scale to combat climate change, and asserted that India was doing its part to deal with the challenge. He said India’s per capita carbon footprint is 60 percent lower than the global average, according to Business Standard. Addressing the US-hosted virtual summit of 40 global leaders, Modi also said sustainable lifestyles and guiding philosophy of “back to basics” must be important pillars of the economic strategy for the post-COVID era. The prime minister said he and Biden are launching the ‘‘India-US climate and clean energy Agenda 2030 partnership’’. “Together, we will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies, and enable green collaborations,” he said at the summit. Modi said India has taken “many bold steps” on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, and bio-diversity despite its development challenges. “For humanity to combat climate change, concrete action is needed. We need such action at a high speed, on a large scale, and with a global scope. We, in India, are doing our part,” the prime minister said. “As a climate-responsible developing country, India welcomes partners to create templates of sustainable development in India. These can also help other developing countries, who need affordable access to green finance and clean technologies,” he said. Modi said humanity is battling a global pandemic right now and the summit is a timely reminder that the grave threat of climate change has not disappeared. The prime minister also thanked Biden for hosting the summit. The two-day virtual Climate Summit which started on Thursday is being attended by 40 world leaders including Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping. As per The Indian Express, Biden pledged to cut at least in half its carbon footprint during the summit, while Xi reiterated his country’s pledge to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. With inputs from PTI