The Vice-President of India, Shri.C. P. Radhakrishnan, today delivered the inaugural address at the Bharat Climate Forum 2026 at New Delhi, emphasising that climate action is not a constraint on India’s development but a strategic opportunity to accelerate inclusive growth, strengthen energy security and build a future-ready economy.

Commending the Council for International Economic Understanding for developing the Forum as a national platform for serious reflection and purposeful action, the Vice-President said India’s engagement with climate and sustainability issues is deeply rooted in its civilisational ethos. He said that long before sustainability emerged as a contemporary concern, Indian thought emphasised harmony between human activity and nature, reflected in traditional water conservation systems, sustainable agricultural practices, biodiversity preservation and ethical principles such as Prakriti and Aparigraha.

Highlighting India’s development journey over the past decade, the Vice-President said the country has consistently sought balance between growth and equity, and present needs and future responsibility. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has fundamentally redefined how a developing nation approaches climate responsibility, he added.

Referring to India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP-26, the Vice-President said these goals chart a clear pathway towards a low-carbon future, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, while reaffirming India’s development priorities and responsibility towards future generations.

Stressing the importance of clean-technology manufacturing, the Vice-President said a developed India cannot be built on imported technologies or fragile supply chains alone. It must rest on homegrown clean technologies, resilient manufacturing and a future-ready workforce. India, he noted, is increasingly becoming a global maker across renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, electric mobility, sustainable materials, climate-smart agriculture and digital climate solutions—transforming Make in India into Make in India for the world.

He observed that Indian companies are making significant investments in solar modules, battery manufacturing, electric vehicle components, electrolyzers and green fuels, while start-ups are driving innovation in climate data, energy efficiency and waste management.

On global cooperation, the Vice-President said climate change is a shared challenge that requires collective action. India’s approach to partnerships, he noted, is one of collaboration without dependence. As a founding force behind the International Solar Alliance, he said, India has mobilised countries of the Global South around affordable and scalable solar solutions. India’s leadership of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, he added, reflects a forward-looking approach to strengthening infrastructure systems against climate-induced shocks and safeguarding development gains.

Among those present on the occasion were Chairman, Bharat Climate Forum and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Shri N. K. Singh; Convenor, Bharat Climate Forum and former Union Minister, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi; Co-Chair, Bharat Climate Forum, Shri Sumant Sinha; and President, Bharat Climate Forum, Dr. Ashwani Mahajan, along with policymakers, industry leaders, experts, academics and other stakeholders from across the world.

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PR/ASM