NEW DELHI: Following closely behind Climate Week NYC 2015, the long awaited Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) from Prime Minister Modi’s government was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) last night.
Speaking in reaction to the announcement, Krishnan Pallassana, India Director, The Climate Group, says: “The much anticipated India INDC underlines actions already in place which focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. We welcome the commitment made to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030, and the signals the India government is sending about its support for the international process and its confidence in a deal at COP.
Development is understandably a primary concern for policy-makers, and this is evident in today’s announcement.
“However the fact that India is a developing economy should not be seen as a constraint but as an opportunity to demonstrate to others how ambitious growth can be achieved through a clean industrial revolution and building a strong low carbon economy.
“The Climate Group is already working with the India government on developing finance mechanisms which support the rapid scale up of off-grid renewable energy solutions. Our Bijli – Clean Energy for All program has already brought cheap, clean energy to tens of thousands of people in remote areas. With the proper support, potentially hundreds of millions of people could be connected to affordable, low carbon energy in a way which could provide a massive boost to the Indian economy.”
Mark Kenber, CEO, The Climate Group commented on India’s INDC: “All the world’s major economies have now presented their contributions for COP21. India’s INDC follows a week where climate has dominated headlines for all the right reasons. We’ve seen Brazil and South Africa make commitments, states, regions and cities set new carbon targets, and organizations representing no fewer than 6 million companies say they all back a deal in Paris. This is a world apart from where we were going into Copenhagen.
“The wind is clearly in our sails. But we now need to turn this momentum into a ratcheting up of ambition and confidence that a strong deal will have significant economic and financial benefits. Paris needs to mark a major transition to a global low economy that is strong and sustainable. The goal, as signaled to us by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar this week, of transforming India’s economy into a leading global clean tech hub and delivering the country’s economic development strategy on the back of this, is further evidence that the center of gravity has fundamentally and irreversibly shifted.”
