Developing Nations Wrongly Blamed For Emissions: Modi, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that developing nations are often wrongly blamed for carbon emissions, emphasizing that India's per capita emissions are less than half the global average.
• India is the only G20 country to have fulfilled all its commitments under the Paris Agreement ahead of schedule.
• The Prime Minister made these remarks at an international conference on "The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics," organized by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• India has significantly increased its solar capacity from 2 GW to over 160 GW in 12 years, and its non-fossil capacity has nearly quadrupled.
• The SHANTI Act from December 2025 aims to enable private sector participation in India's nuclear energy development.

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Detailed Insights:

• The conference, hosted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), brought together global jurists, academics, policymakers, scientists, and experts to address gaps in environmental policymaking and foster international cooperation.
• India's per capita carbon emissions are six times lower than those in developed countries, a fact consistently highlighted by India on global platforms.
• India's first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets for emissions intensity and non-fossil capacity were met years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
• The third NDC target, creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030 through afforestation, is on track, with 2.29 billion tonnes achieved between 2005 and 2021.
• Globally, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that even with full NDC implementation, warming could reach 2.3-2.5 degrees Celsius, falling short of the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of nuclear energy, noting potential opposition from environmental groups, while the SHANTI Act facilitates private investment in this sector.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Paris Agreement: A legally binding international treaty adopted in 2015, aiming to limit global temperature rise to "well below 2 degrees Celsius" and pursue efforts for 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): National climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, detailing each country's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A statutory body established in India in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, for the expeditious disposal of environmental cases.
• Global South: A term referring to developing countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which often face significant climate impacts despite historically contributing least to global emissions.
• SHANTI Act: The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, a legislation aimed at expanding India's nuclear energy capacity by allowing private and foreign investment.