"World Is Not Doing Enough," Says PM Modi At UN Climate Action Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world was not doing enough to tackle the climate crisis, calling for "global behavioural change" at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York. As part of its commitment to the cause, India will increase its renewable energy target to 450 gigawatts, he announced.

"We must accept that if we have to overcome such serious challenges, then what we are doing today is not enough. What we need is global behavioural change. India is here today not just to talk about this serious issue but to present a roadmap," he said.

PM Modi said India would increase the share of non-fossil fuel energy. "We are going to increase our renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by 2022, and are committed to further increasing it to 450 GW," he said. India had set the 175 GW target as part of its commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate agreement.

"The time for talks is over. The world needs to act now," PM Modi said in the presence of US President Donald Trump, who made an unscheduled appearance at the UN summit.

The Prime Minister's address comes a day after the two leaders shared the stage at a grand event in Houston and displayed close friendship and a common vision on fighting terrorism.

But the US and India differ on the issue of climate change. Mr Trump withdrew from the Paris climate deal in 2017 and blamed India and China for his decision, saying the agreement was unfair as it would have made the US pay for nations which benefited the most from the deal. On Monday, he reportedly left after listening to the speeches by PM Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Prime Minister also said India will invest $50 billion in water conservation and announced a Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. "India is launching a coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure. I invite all world leaders for this coalition," the Prime Minister added. Eighty countries have already joined India's solar alliance imitative, he said.

PM Modi was among the first set of speakers at the summit's opening ceremony, a highly significant gesture given that only those heads of state, government and ministers are invited to speak at the summit who have any "positive development" to announce on climate action.

The Climate Action Summit aims to boost action to implement the Paris Agreement, which was signed in 2015.

(With inputs from PTI)