NEW DEHLI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to leave for UAE for the UN climate conference (COP28) in Dubai this week, reinforcing India’s dedication to addressing climate change, as confirmed by a government statement.
Scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, Modi’s two-day visit underscores India’s prioritization of climate issues, particularly highlighted during its recent G20 Presidency. The G20 leadership aimed to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and acknowledged the necessity to phase out unabated coal power, although specific climate targets were not established.
Recent reports suggest that France, supported by the United States, intends to propose a cessation of private financing for coal-powered plants at the conference, a move that may encounter opposition from India and other major emerging nations reliant on coal to sustain rapid economic growth.
Despite India’s efforts to increase non-fossil fuel capacity to 44% of total installed power generation, coal still contributes to around 73% of the country’s electricity consumption.
