The Prime Minister of India on Monday (November 1) used the COP26 climate negotiations to announce 2070 as his country’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions, which is 20 years longer than the time required by scientists to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.
However, Narendra Modi defended India’s adherence to its climate commitments “in spirit and in words” and pointed out that his country has 17% of the world’s population, but its emissions account for only the world’s total. 5%.
Modi told other world leaders that by 2030, India will increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix from around 38% last year to 50%.
Just last week, India, the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the United States, rejected the call to announce a net-zero carbon emission target.
It said that it is more important for the world to develop reliable ways to reduce emissions.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have set a target date for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. By then, they will emit only a certain amount of greenhouse gases that can be absorbed by forests, crops, soil and emerging “carbon capture technologies.” .
Both China and Saudi Arabia have set goals for 2060, but critics say these goals are basically meaningless if there is no concrete action now. Scientists say that we must halve global emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
In his speech, Modi also called for the promotion of a sustainable lifestyle on a global scale.
“We need to use it consciously and consciously, not blindly and destructively,” he said, citing consumer choices from packaging to diet.
“These choices made by billions of people can take the fight against climate change a step further,” he said.
