Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about climate change in his monthly radio address ‘Mann ki Baat’, which was broadcast on Sunday morning, hours before he leaves for Paris to attend the UN global climate change summit.
“Climate change, global warming are issues of discussion and concern,” Modi said. “The best way to make sure that Earth’s temperature does not further increase, is by energy conservation. This is everyone’s responsibility.”
December 14 is being observed as the National Energy Conservation Day. The Prime Minister highlighted many government schemes to help conserve energy, specifically mentioning easier and cheaper to access LED bulbs.
In this context, PM Modi mentioned a resident of Kanpur, Noor Jehan, who is helping provide light to the poor by using solar energy. Jehan has formed a committee of women and set up a plant of solar energy lanterns.
India’s 25-member delegation will focus on PM Modi’s call for climate justice, even though the country is under pressure from the developed nations to cut down on emission.
But with 200 million people with no access to electricity, India has said it will not accept any restrictions on its use of coal despite being the world’s third largest carbon polluter.
India has been at the forefront of the developing nations’ attempt to pressurise developed countries to take more obligations in terms of emission cuts and funding because they are ‘historically’ responsible for greenhouse gases emitted in the process of industrialisation. The government of India has already touched base with about 60 developing countries to form a joint strategy at Paris.
The nation, however, has set a target of availing 175 gigawatts of power through renewable resources by 2022.
