Collective Efforts Essential to Tackle Climate Change, Promoting Renewable Energy to Achieve Net Zero Target – Minister of State for Energy

Jaipur : Minister of State for Energy, Mr. Heeralal Nagar, emphasized that India is making significant progress towards achieving its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2070 through the promotion of renewable energy. As a result, the country’s installed renewable energy capacity has now exceeded 200 gigawatts, with Rajasthan leading the way by contributing 29.85 gigawatts.

Mr. Nagar was speaking at the inaugural session of the South Asian Clean Energy Forum held at the Hyatt Hotel in Jaipur on Tuesday. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presented a five-point “Panchamrit” agenda at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland in 2021 to address the challenges of climate change and carbon emissions. The agenda aims to meet 50% of India’s energy requirements through renewable sources by 2030 and reduce the estimated total carbon emissions by one billion tons.

The minister stated that robust collective efforts are needed to tackle the challenges posed by climate change and to ensure access to renewable energy for all. He noted that Rajasthan is setting an example in this direction and expressed confidence that the South Asian Clean Energy Forum would bring policymakers, stakeholders, development partners, and experts together to shape future energy policies. Mr. Nagar also thanked U.S. Ambassador to India, Mr. Eric Garcetti, for bringing together representatives from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, and other countries on a common platform.

Earlier, U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti pointed out that promoting clean energy in the subcontinent is essential, as it is home to nearly one-fourth of the world’s population and contributes 28% to the global economy. He drew attention to the increasing environmental threats due to climate change and affirmed America’s commitment to supporting the transition to renewable energy in the rapidly growing nations of the subcontinent. The forum, he said, is a significant initiative in that direction.

During the event, the U.S. Ambassador announced three new programs to promote clean energy in the South Asian region: the U.S.-South Asia Mayoral Platform for Environmentally Friendly Urban Development, the Indo-American Low Carbon Comfort and Cooling Collective, and the Clean Energy Investment Facilitation Platform. He stated that the Cooling Collective program aims to raise one billion dollars by 2030 for super-efficient cooling technologies.

The forum also featured addresses by Mariyam Shahana, Secretary of Transport and Civil Aviation of the Maldives, Dasho Karma Shering, Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources of Bhutan, Dasho Phuntsho Tobgay, Secretary of Infrastructure and Transport of Bhutan, Mr. Suresh Acharya, Secretary of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal, Mr. A.K.N. Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary of Power and Energy of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Manu Shrivastava, Additional Chief Secretary of Energy for Madhya Pradesh.

The Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development Indo-Pacific, Mr. Aaron Schubert, expressed his gratitude at the event.