PM Modi Launches NGT Mobile App, Says India Offering Solutions To Modern Climate Challenges

Addressing the conference, Modi said India had historically played a leading role in environmental matters and was now drawing upon its cultural and environmental traditions to offer solutions to contemporary climate challenges.

“On the subject of nature and the environment, for centuries, India has, in a sense, guided the world. Carrying forward that ideological commitment and drawing upon our rich cultural experiences as a foundation, India is now providing solutions to modern climate challenges,” he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the distribution of responsibility for carbon emissions between developed and developing countries. He said developing nations were often unfairly held responsible for carbon emissions, while India’s per capita carbon emissions remained less than half the global average.

“Often, the responsibility for carbon emissions has been unfairly thrust upon developing nations. Many of my colleagues and friends from the Global South are seated here today. However, the historical reality is that even today, India’s contribution to per capita carbon emissions is less than half of the global average,” Modi said.

He further claimed that per capita carbon emissions in developed countries were six times higher than in India, adding that India had consistently raised the issue on international platforms.

Modi highlighted India’s environmental initiatives over the past 12 years, particularly its focus on renewable energy. He said India had fulfilled the commitments it made under the Paris Agreement at COP21 ahead of schedule.

“Over the past 12 years, India has made extraordinary progress in every field connected to the environment, in every sector. Our major focus has been on renewable energy, and this has played a significant role in environmental protection,” he said.

He added that India was the only G20 country to have fulfilled its Paris Agreement commitments ahead of the prescribed timeline.

The Prime Minister also referred to India’s progress in areas including non-fossil fuel capacity and solar energy, saying the country’s performance on these parameters was being discussed globally.

The two-day international conference, organised by the NGT on September 19 and 20, is focused on environmental and climate challenges and their relationship with development, governance and justice.

The conference has brought together Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, District Court Judges, environmental experts, senior government officials and representatives of various judicial, legal and environmental institutions.

Eminent judicial representatives from 17 countries are also participating in the conference.

The inaugural session was attended by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, Attorney General R Venkataramani and NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava.

According to the NGT, the conference seeks to provide a platform for discussions on major environmental and climate challenges, identify gaps in policymaking and implementation, share successful practices and strengthen institutional cooperation.

The event comprises four technical sessions on key environmental issues, with discussions aimed at developing a roadmap for addressing present and future environmental and climate challenges.

The NGT has said the conference is intended to strengthen environmental justice and institutional cooperation, while promoting dialogue on the intersection of environment, climate change, development and justice.

The valedictory session on September 20 is scheduled to be attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal, Supreme Court judge Justice PS Narasimha, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.