New Delhi: India’s carbon footprint remains significantly below the global average, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, stressing the need to pursue economic development alongside environmental protection.
Modi was speaking after inaugurating the international conference, ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’, organised by the National Green Tribunal at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. The two-day conference will focus on key challenges related to environmental governance and climate change.
Highlighting India’s traditional relationship with nature, Modi said the country had followed a culture of living in harmony with the environment for centuries. These values, he said, could provide a foundation for addressing modern climate challenges.
Solar capacity rises sharply
The Prime Minister said renewable energy, particularly solar power, has emerged as a key component of India’s environmental strategy.
India’s solar power capacity has risen from around 2 GW to more than 160 GW over the past 12 years, he said. The expansion of solar energy has helped the country avoid around 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions, according to Modi.
Wind power capacity has also increased nearly threefold during the period. Along with expanding hydropower and nuclear energy, India is encouraging greater private-sector participation in the clean energy sector, he said.
Paris climate target achieved ahead of schedule
Modi said non-fossil fuel sources accounted for more than 50% of India’s total installed power capacity in 2025.
This, he said, meant India had achieved its 2030 Paris Agreement target five years ahead of schedule.
The government is also expanding rooftop solar installations under its clean-energy push. Around five million households have already installed rooftop solar systems, Modi said.
The conference is bringing together experts and judicial representatives from several countries to discuss climate change, biodiversity, sustainable energy, environmental governance and climate justice.
Judges and judicial representatives from 17 countries are among those attending the event.
