India advances 20% ethanol-blending in petrol to 2025: Modi

India will meet the 20% ethanol blending in petrol (E20) target by 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday on the occasion of World Environment Day, advancing the deadline by five years, as he listed measures like promotion of renewable energy the country has taken to fight the climate crisis.

The Centre earlier announced that it would achieve the target by 2030. The promotion of E20 fuel is part of the country’s plans to cut its oil imports and reduce pollution.

Modi said India is a strong proponent of climate justice and is moving ahead with a lofty global vision like the founding of the International Solar Alliance for realising the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure initiative. He added India has been included in the world’s top 10 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index.

Modi said the country has taken both hard and soft approaches to fighting the climate crisis. On the hard approach, he noted India’s capacity for renewable energy has increased by more than 250% in the last six to seven years. He referred to the soft approach and listed India’s drive to phase out single-use plastics, beach cleaning and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission).