Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23 spoke at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York focus on India's steps to control climate change with accordance to the global goals. Expressing the motto of India on climate change, PM Modi said that "Need, not greed, has been the guiding principle" for India. Thanking UN Secretary-General Guetteres for the chance to speak on the climate change issue at UN General Assembly Modi said that the steps being taken to curb the climate change are not enough. There is a need for a comprehensive approach covering education, values and everything from lifestyle to developmental philosophy, he added. 

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Highlights of PM Modi's speech

"We believe that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching," PM Narendra Modi said at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. 

Modi said that India's part in the climate summit is to provide a practical approach and a road map to curb the changes in climate. Going into the details of India's efforts, he said that by 2022 India is going to increase its renewable energy capacity to 175 gigawatts and that the country is committed to further increasing it to 450 gigawatts. Speaking further on renewable sources, PM said that about 80 nations have joined India's International Solar Alliance initiative. He added the information that on Tuesday, even the UN building's roof will have solar panels. 

"The time to act is now," PM Modi said.

Highlighting the other initiatives by Indian Government, PM Modi said that India has launched a drive against single-use plastic. To conserve water, the country has launched "Mission Jal Jeevan". To make the atmosphere cleaner, e-mobility is being encouraged in India. Emphasizing on "Ujwala Yojana", PM said India's initiatives have supplied clean cooking gas to about 150 million families. 

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Gutteres hailed India's efforts to control climate change

Earlier, UN chief Antonio Guterres had lauded India for its efforts to control climate change. He said that India is an important actor and "fundamental partner" in international efforts on climate action and is making a "fantastic effort" to grow its renewable energy basket. The UN Secretary-General Guterres recalled International Solar Alliance mentioned in Modi's speech and described India's gift of 193 solar panels to the world organization as "very useful". He was speaking to a small and select group of journalists at a special luncheon hosted by him ahead of the high-level Climate Action Summit when he made the statement.

"There has been a huge investment in India in relation to solar power. India still has a meaningful amount of coal and we have also discussed that. And he (Modi) has a number of other initiatives of different sorts related to the Clean India (campaign) and many other aspects that will have, we believe and we hope, a strong impact from the point of view of India's progressive performance in relation to climate action," the UN Secretary-General said.

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