India 1st G-20 nation to meet Paris Agreement goals: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India was the first country among the G-20 nations to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is a landmark international treaty aimed at combating climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to cap the increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement also focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aligning financial flows with low-emission development pathways.
In his virtual address from France at the opening ceremony of India Energy Week 2025, PM Modi highlighted India’s significant progress in renewable energy and climate action. “In the last 10 years, India has risen from the 10th to the fifth largest economy globally. During this period, we have increased our solar energy generation capacity by 32 times,” he said.
He further emphasised India’s leadership in renewable energy, stating, “India is now the third-largest solar power generator in the world. Our non-fossil fuel energy capacity has tripled, and we are the first among G-20 nations to achieve the Paris Agreement goals.”
The Prime Minister attributed India’s success to initiatives like ethanol blending, which has significantly reduced CO2 emissions. “India has achieved 19 per cent ethanol blending, saving foreign exchange, boosting farmer income, and cutting CO2 emissions. We are on track to achieve the 20 per cent ethanol blending target before October 2025,” he said.
PM Modi also highlighted the growth of India’s biofuel industry, supported by the Global Biofuels Alliance, which was established during India’s G20 Presidency. “We have a sustainable feedstock of 500 million metric tonnes. The Global Biofuels Alliance is expanding rapidly, with 28 nations and 12 international organisations onboard. It is transforming waste into wealth and establishing centres of excellence,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister outlined India’s ambitious energy goals aligned with the 2030 deadline. “We aim to add 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The Indian Railways is targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and we plan to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030,” he said. He expressed confidence in achieving these targets, citing India’s track record over the past decade.
In the gas sector, PM Modi noted that India is the fourth-largest refining hub globally and is working to increase its capacity by 20%. He also highlighted the growth of India’s solar PV module manufacturing capacity, which has surged from 2 gigawatts to about 70 gigawatts in the last decade, driven by the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
