Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the International Conference on "The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics," organized by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The speech detailed India's significant achievements in environmental protection and renewable energy expansion over the past 12 years, positioning them as contributions to humanity's future.
India's per capita carbon emissions are less than half the global average and six times lower than those of developed countries. The country has already fulfilled all commitments made at the COP-21 Paris Summit ahead of schedule. Central to this progress has been an extraordinary expansion of renewable energy capacity. Solar energy capacity grew from approximately 2 GW twelve years ago to over 160 GW today. Through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the government has provided subsidies of approximately ₹80,000 per household to install rooftop solar panels on over 5 million homes. Under the KUSUM scheme, 3 million farmers have received solar pumps for their fields. These solar initiatives alone have successfully prevented nearly 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions in India.
Progress extends to other clean energy sectors. Wind energy capacity has tripled in the last 12 years, hydro energy capacity has significantly increased, and the country is rapidly advancing nuclear energy generation, including by creating a pathway for private sector participation. Consequently, India's non-fossil fuel energy capacity has increased nearly fourfold. The country is also promoting technologies like coal gasification for cleaner coal usage and is advancing rapidly in clean mobility and green hydrogen, recently launching the world's longest hydrogen train.
The mobility sector has undergone a massive transformation. The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country has increased by approximately 950 times over 12 years. From selling fewer than 3,000 EVs in the year before 2014, sales reached nearly 2.5 million units last year. Infrastructure improvements have also contributed; the near-100% electrification of railways has saved billions of litres of diesel. The recent launch of a nearly 3,000 km dedicated freight corridor, featuring double-stack container trains, replaces hundreds of trucks per journey. Furthermore, transportation has begun on approximately 5,000 km of waterways, the most environmentally friendly mode of mobility, where a single standard inland vessel carries a load equivalent to dozens of trucks.
Urban infrastructure has seen major growth. The metro network, which was limited to under 250 km in just 5 cities before 2014, now operates in over 20 cities, with India joining the group of nations that have over 1,000 km of metro network.
Water conservation efforts involve millions of people. Over 70,000 Amrit Sarovar lakes have been constructed, and nearly 15 million water harvesting structures have been built under the 'Catch the Rain' campaign. The PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana has connected over 20 million farmers to modern irrigation facilities, saving water through initiatives like 'Per Drop More Crop'.
The promotion of 'Shri Anna' (millets) is another successful example. Millets consume less water, and their production has increased, with exports rising to nearly 150,000 tonnes. Due to India's efforts, 2023 was celebrated as the 'International Year of Millets'.
Agricultural advancements include the development of nearly 3,000 varieties of climate-resilient crops. Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, approximately 24,000 clusters covering 12.5 lakh hectares have been established. Agro-forestry is being promoted to reduce carbon footprints.
India's forest cover has significantly increased, with very dense forest cover rising by over 22% in the past 12 years. Millions of trees have been planted under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, which is ongoing.
To address plastic waste, India has banned single-use plastics and promoted a circular economy based on reduce, reuse, and recycle. Thousands of tonnes of waste are recycled every day in India. Through the Gobardhan Yojana, cow dung and other organic waste in villages are being converted into useful resources under a 'Waste to Wealth' model.