COP26: PM Modi Makes Five Big Promises, Net Zero By 2070

New Delhi: Addressing the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made five big announcements, which he called ‘Panchamrit’. The Prime Minister announced that India would make a one billion tonne reduction in projected emissions from now until 2030 and also set a 2070 date for a net-zero emissions target, accepting global demands.

India was the only G20 country and the last of the world’s major carbon polluters not to have announced a net-zero target until now. China said it would reach that goal in 2060, and the US and EU in 2050.

This is the first time India has set a net zero target. Net zero, or becoming carbon neutral, means not adding to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Here are Modi’s ‘Panchamrit’ which he announced at COP26:

* India will boost its installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 from 450 GW to 500 GW.

* India will meet 50 percent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.

* India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030.

* The country’s emissions intensity, or emissions per unit GDP, will be reduced by at least 45 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

* By 2070, India will achieve the target of net zero emissions.

India is currently the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, releasing over 3 billion tonne every year.

But India’s emissions are rising, at about 4 to 5 per cent every year. So the total emissions between now and 2030 is expected to be much higher, in the range of about 40 billion tonne.