Climate Change: PM Modi for credit to green initiatives

Pitching for a paradigm shift in the global approach towards climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday  instead of only focussing on emission cuts, due credit should be given to efforts made for clean energy generation and conservation.

Underlining that focus should shift from "carbon credit" towards "green credit", he singled out solar energy, saying it needs to be integrated with hybrid system of energy to make it useful. He favoured setting up of a consortium of nations having potential in solar energy which could join hands with India in innovation and cutting-edge research that would reduce the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible to people. Chairing the first meeting of the reconstituted 'Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change here, Modi said that "instead of focussing on emissions and cuts alone, focus should shift on what we have done for clean energy generation, energy conservation and energy efficiency, and what more can be done in these areas," a PMO statement said.

He called for a careful evaluation of all the initiatives that have been taken by India in this regard. These include initiatives in solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, and transportation projects that have reduced distances or travel times. Modi said India looks at the global concern and awareness on Climate Change, as a great opportunity for working towards improving the quality of life of its citizens, and making a positive contribution for mankind. He also directed ministries to prepare a concept note on five uncovered areas -- health, urban waste management, coastal areas and wind energy -- while dealing with climate change as these are not covered under the ongoing missions. "The ministries concerned have been asked to work on these new areas and prepare a concept note in the next four-five months. Once the concept is finalised, the funds will allocated accordingly," a source said.

Modi asked the ministries to ensure the existing eight missions run in a more focussed manner and deliver the results. These include missions on solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, green India, sustainable agriculture, Strategic Knowledge for climate change.

"The meeting was told that the missions are running on track at present since the financial allocation from 2013-14 fiscal. Although funds are not fully released, there is a hope that more funds would come in the next Budget," the source added. "I think this was a good start. I hope further interactions will happen. ...We discussed on wide range of subjects. ...Members also gave suggestions," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters after the meeting. The Prime Minister guided the deliberations and said India should look to this problem as an opportunity to act more vigorously and at the same time project the country's contribution effectively to the world, he added.

Modi asked the ministries to evaluate initiatives taken in the areas such as solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, and transportation projects that have reduced distances or travel times, the statement said.
He also called for a review of curricula in architecture and civil engineering colleges, to include energy efficient design in a big way. Emphasising that India's "sanskar" (traditions) and "soch" (thinking), where "prakriti prem" (love of nature) was imbibed among people from childhood, "the Prime Minister recalled his meeting with leaders of Pacific island nations in Fiji in November 2014, and the apprehension they had over the issue of climate change.

The 18-member panel meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, and Power Minister Piyush Goyal. The meeting was also attended by TERI chief R K Pachauri, economist Nitin Desai and retired diplomat Chandrasekhar Dasgupta and other members of the Council.