On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended India’s strides in the green energy sector, noting the country’s milestone of being the first G20 member to meet its Paris Agreement targets. Speaking at the inaugural International Solar Festival held at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam, Modi highlighted the dramatic expansion in solar energy as pivotal to this success.
Modi emphasized that India’s solar capacity has surged 33 times over the past decade, a testament to the nation’s commitment and progress. This rapid advancement, he explained, will be instrumental in achieving the goal of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.
The solar festival, Modi remarked, aims to unite global efforts in harnessing solar energy for a better world. Drawing on ancient Vedic traditions, he pointed out that the reverence for the sun is still a daily practice for millions of Indians. He reinforced India’s dedication to fostering an inclusive, clean, and green future, introducing a three-pronged approach to enhance global solar adoption: awareness, availability, and affordability.
The two-day festival features pivotal sessions led by industry experts focused on climate goals. Member countries of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) will present their initiatives at exhibition booths, with cultural performances by renowned artists like AR Rahman adding to the event’s vibrancy. Modi likened the ISA’s evolution to a sapling growing into a massive tree, celebrating its progress since its inception at COP21 in Paris in 2015. With 100 member countries and 19 more pending full membership, the ISA is advancing its vision of ‘One World, One Sun, One Grid’.
