UN climate change chief lauds India’s solar energy power, urges stronger climate action for economic growth

NEW DELHI: India, one of only four countries globally to have installed over 100 gigawatts of solar capacity, is already a solar superpower, delivering results where some govts only talk, said

UN Climate Change

executive secretary

Simon Stiell

. The other three in the list of top four are China, the US and Germany.
Addressing a curtain raiser event of the annual ET Now Global Business Summit of the Times Group here on last Friday, Stiell said those counties that take the lead have a chance to benefit massively from a new order and India is already headed firmly in this direction by not only growing economically while decreasing energy intensity but also by creating the International Solar Alliance and setting impressive targets for

clean energy growth

. “Now you have a chance to go even further,” he said.
As the UN climate body chief underlined India’s success story of rising energy access with every village in the country being electrified well ahead of schedule, he at the same time emphasised on the need to “take the next step, and unleash even bigger benefits” for India’s 1.4 billion people and economy, and suggested to have a strong climate plan — Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) — for the country.
He also suggested that countries across the globe, unlike the past when the NDCs focused almost solely on cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases and of fossil fuels, should now focus on the huge growth potential such as growth in wind and solar, growth in living standards, growth in jobs. “India is already headed firmly in this direction, but an even stronger embrace of the

global clean energy boom

will supercharge India’s economic rise,” said Stiell.

At the time when countries are racing to seize the biggest economic and commercial benefits of the clean energy boom, the UN climate body chief while referring to the US said, “When one nation steps back, others will surely step forward.” His remarks came without taking the name of the country that under President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Stiell said, “To reap the biggest benefits in this race, nations need an integrated approach: govts, businesses, and society working together to ensure research, investment, education, and training align.”
He on the occasion also reminded rich nations of their responsibilities to mobilise adequate climate finance for supporting climate actions in the developing countries. He said, “I would also be remiss if I didn’t remind my international colleagues present — especially those from advanced economies — of the clear need for more and better climate finance, especially for climate resilience.”
Besides India’s impressive action towards increasing footprints of

renewable energy

, Stiell also underlined the country’s other climate actions. “Key among them is Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in prioritizing LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) — unleashing the power of institutions, communities, and individuals to protect the environment and promote a circular economy.”
The UN climate body chief in his address mainly focused on opportunities instead of emphasising the terrible costs the climate crisis is already imposing and said the global clean energy revolution is not stopping.
“Global heating is real, here, and imposing growing costs right now. But govts and businesses are building clean energy because it’s strategic and profitable. This is the biggest economic transformation of our age, that means it is the biggest economic and commercial opportunity too,” he said.
Appealing to businesses and bureaucracy to work together to truly make India a clean energy giant, he said,”Indian investors and businesses will surge ahead in key industries. Electric India will never look back, and 1.4 billion people will reap the vast rewards, now and in the years ahead.”