Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri R.K. Singh has called upon the G20  member countries to join together in countering the challenges posed by global warming and climate change.

Delivering  the key note address  at the first Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) Meeting in Bengaluru today, the Minister said that India now stands committed to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45 percent  by 2030 from 2005 level. He said,  the country also aims to achieve close to 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. Noting that  India has been ranked amongst the top five performing countries in the Climate Change Performance Index, Shri  R.K. Singh informed that the country's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are far below the world average of  6.3 tCO2e in 2020. Various energy saving schemes of the Government have led to 267.9 Million Tonnes of CO2 reduction per year, resulting in an estimated cost savings of $ 18.5 Billion, he added.

Later,  addressing media persons the Minister said that India will not compromise with the present availability of energy base and will explore all feasible sources to achieve energy security. The ETWG Meeting will serve as  a preparatory forum to draft roadmap for this, he added.

In his special address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines Shri Prahlad Joshi underlined the need for international collaboration to achieve universal access to clean energy.  "Indians believe in nature-friendly lifestyle and practices rather than its exploitation. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the concepts of our life; and   Circular economy is an integral part of our culture and lifestyle", the Minister added.

Shri Prahlad Joshi recalled  Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi's announcement at the  COP26 in Glasgow on Mission LiFE - Lifestyle For Environment -  as a mass movement for “mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

The  first ETWG Meeting under India's G20 Presidency will focus on six major priority areas such as   Energy Transition through Addressing Technology Gaps; Low-cost Financing for Energy Transition;  Energy Security and Diversified Supply Chains; Energy Efficiency, Industrial Low Carbon Transitions and Responsible Consumption;  Fuels for Future (3F) and Universal Access to Clean Energy and Just, Affordable, and Inclusive Energy Transition Pathways. "One Earth, One Family and One Future" is the theme of the event.

Shri Renato Domith Godinho, Head of the Renewable Energy Division, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Brazil,  Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary (Power), Shri Abhay Thakur, India's G20 Sous Sherpa and Shri V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Ayog spoke.

More than 150 participants including G20 countries and nine special invitee guest countries are participating in the three-day event along with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and many other international organisations.

On the sidelines, a high-level international seminar on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)’  was organized.  The seminar focussed on  highlighting the importance of carbon capture, utilization, and storage, considered vital for achieving net-zero targets.

S. Prakash

Dy Director, PIB Bengaluru

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