OPINION: Despite Glasgow Plaudits, Modi has His Work Cut Out for Him
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (Wikimedia Commons).
One week after declining to set a deadline for being completely carbon neutral, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised many during his appearance at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference on November 1 in Glasgow by announcing India’s goal for net zero carbon emissions by 2070, according to the Hindustan Times. He also promised that half of India’s energy consumption would be from renewable energy sources by 2030. He emphasized an increased focus of “panchamrit,” or five values, which include a push towards using renewable energy sources, in his push to combat climate change.
Moreover, he also pointed towards developed countries to provide a trillion dollars in financial assistance to developing countries for the purpose of building climate change-combatting infrastructure. With Chinese President Xi Jinping absent and President Joe Biden delivering a lackluster performance, Modi’s presence at the summit was a step in the right direction for high carbon-emitting countries. Moreover, he gained plaudits in India by putting the spotlight on Western countries in the battle against climate change. Although Modi’s promises are encouraging, however, India still has a long way to go in its battle against climate change.
India is currently the world’s third largest carbon emitting country, emitting 2.65 tons in 2020, according to the Hindu. Only China and the U.S. had more emissions. It also missed the renewable energy target for 2022. Although it pledged to produce 175 gW of renewable energy, it is on track to produce only 157 gW. On top of this, the future of India’s economy will be heavily reliant on non-renewable energy sources, including coal, which is the country’s main energy source, used for industrial purposes, as well as to provide a lot of India’s 1.4 billion people with electricity, according to the Economist. Without a scalable renewable energy plan to replace coal production, India is looking to maintain its high coal usage in the short term.
Modi’s own economic vision collides with his climate change plan. His “Make in India” initiative is encouraging increasing industrial production in India, and foreign direct investment is pouring into the country as a result, according to Reuters. The forecasted increase in industrial production resulting from this policy doesn’t fare well for India’s climate change plan.
Renewable energy use in India is also questionable. India’s carbon usage is projected to peak in 2040 before declining, according to Bloomberg. Not only does this bolster fears that India’s carbon usage is nowhere close to declining, but it also undermines Modi’s promise to have India consume half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
India is already on the back foot in its fight against climate change. Although Modi’s promises at Glasgow are admirable, he clearly has his work cut out for him. Modi needs to ensure that India prioritizes renewable energy sources in the short term, especially in its expanding industrial sector. Otherwise India’s fight against climate is already a lost cause.