Union Minister Singh emphasized that that the adoption of electric vehicles is critical for a growing economy like India as well as for climate action. “It is necessary to change the climate change discourse and make it real.
The discourse on climate action has been driven by developed countries, which has been nothing but hypocritical. Our per capita emissions are one third of global average, while that of developed countries is three times the global average. We are responsible for only 4% of legacy carbon dioxide load on the planet even though our population is 17%. So, we have added least quantum of carbon on a per capita basis and we are adding at the slowest possible rate on a per capita basis.”
The Minister reiterated that any assessment of carbon emissions has to be on per capita basis, not on absolute terms. “Moreover, India is the only major economy whose energy transition actions are consonant with the sub-two-degrees-Celsius rise in global temperature. We are the only major economy which has achieved all its NDC commitments in advance. In no other country has renewable energy capacity has grown so fast.
We achieved NDC of reducing emission intensity in 2019, 11 years in advance. So, in Glasgow, we said that we will have 50% of our power capacity coming from non-fossil-fuel sources. We pledged that we will reduce our emissions intensity by 45%.” Shri Singh said that transition to EVs will reduce our emissions. “It is important to us as a government since we value our planet, it is in our culture. We are taking action since we believe in the environment.”
Joining the event virtually, G20 Sherpa, Government of India, Shri Amitabh Kant remarked: “OMI Foundation’s EV-Ready India Dashboard is a transformative platform that consolidates vital insights on electric mobility.
Recognising that the real action in electric mobility occurs at the state level, the dashboard offers comprehensive, state-specific insights, empowering policymakers to make informed decisions, fostering India’s journey into a global EV leader.”
