India highlights 4000% solar growth, backs climate finance push at BRICS environment meet

Time of India

13 hours ago

New Delhi: India has recorded a 4000 per cent increase in its installed solar energy capacity over the past decade and is on track to meet its Net Zero target by 2070,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
said on Monday while addressing the BRICS Leaders' Session on Environment, COP-30, and Global Health, hosted under Brazil's chairmanship.
Modi said India was the first country to achieve its
Paris Agreement commitments
ahead of schedule, and that climate change and environmental protection remained top priorities. 'In our culture, the Earth is respected as a mother. That's why, when Mother Earth needs us, we always respond. We are transforming our mindset, our behaviour, and our lifestyle,' he said.
The Prime Minister noted that India had launched several key initiatives aligned with climate goals, including Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Green Hydrogen Mission, the Global Biofuels Alliance, and the Big Cats Alliance.
Referring to the upcoming COP-30 being hosted by Brazil later this year, Modi said the discussion on environment within the BRICS forum was relevant and timely. He said India had taken steps to bridge the gap between the Global North and South during its G20 presidency and that the country had achieved consensus among member nations on the
Green Development Pact
.
'To encourage environment-friendly actions, we also launched the Green Credits Initiative,' Modi said. 'Despite being the world's fastest-growing major economy, India is the first country to achieve its Paris commitments ahead of schedule,' he added.
On
climate justice
, the Prime Minister said, 'For India, climate justice is not just a choice, it is a moral obligation. India firmly believes that without technology transfer and affordable financing for countries in need, climate action will remain confined to climate talk.'
He said developed countries had a special responsibility to help bridge the gap between climate ambition and financing. 'We take along all nations, especially those facing food, fuel, fertilizer, and financial crises due to various global challenges,' he said.
He said sustainable and inclusive development of humanity could not be achieved as long as double standards persisted in the global framework. Modi extended support to the 'Framework Declaration on
Climate Finance
' being released at the BRICS session, calling it a 'commendable step'.
The Prime Minister also linked the environment discussion to global health challenges. 'The health of the planet and the health of humanity are deeply intertwined,' he said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic had shown that viruses do not require visas and solutions cannot be based on passports.
'Shared challenges can only be addressed through collective efforts. Guided by the mantra of 'One Earth, One Health,' India has expanded cooperation with all countries,' Modi said.
He said India had established the world's largest health insurance scheme,
Ayushman Bharat
, which now covers over 500 million people. 'An ecosystem for traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, and Siddha has been established,' he said.
He also mentioned that Digital Health initiatives were helping expand access to healthcare in the remotest parts of the country and that India would be happy to share its experiences in these areas.
The Prime Minister welcomed BRICS's emphasis on health sector cooperation and said the
BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre
launched in 2022 was a significant step. 'The Leader's Statement on 'BRICS Partnership for Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases' being issued today shall serve as new inspiration for strengthening our collaboration,' he said.
Modi said India would assume the BRICS chairmanship next year and would focus on strengthening cooperation under the theme of 'Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.'
'Just as we brought inclusivity to our G-20 Presidency and placed the concerns of the Global South at the forefront of the agenda, similarly, during our Presidency of BRICS, we will advance this forum with a people-centric approach and the spirit of 'Humanity First,'' he said.
The Prime Minister concluded by congratulating Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the successful conduct of the summit.