Nations approach India over clean energy projects

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the 26th conference of parties (COP 26) on the climate crisis in Glasgow in November, several countries have approached India to partner on clean energy projects and to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

On Thursday, Denmark energy minister Dan Jorgensen and German parliamentary state secretaries Maria Flachsbarth and Norbert Barthle met environment minister Bhupender Yadav over enhancing India’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and on futuristic technology to help mitigate climate change. NDCs are pledges by countries on what action they will take to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Besides Yadav, Jorgensen, who is on a five-day visit to India with a business delegation, also held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal secretary PK Mishra and power minister RK Singh during the day. One of the main areas of partnership for Jorgensen is setting up an offshore clean and wind energy hub in Tamil Nadu of about 1 GW. The Denmark minister also discussed the possibility of India enhancing its NDC ahead of COP 26.

India has three quantifiable NDCs, which include lowering the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% compared to 2005 levels by 2030; increasing total cumulative electricity generation from fossil free energy sources to 40% by 2030; creating additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tons through additional forest and tree cover. “All eyes are on India. If India really wants to consolidate its role in climate change mitigation, it will enhance its NDC,” Jorgensen said after meeting with Yadav.