India emphasises lowering per capita carbon emission at the 14th CEM & G20

US Energy Secretary Commends India’s Energy Transition Progress, Brazil to Host CEM/MI Ministerial Meeting and G20 Presidency in 2024 to Accelerate Clean Energy and Climate Action.

The 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and 8th Mission Innovation Meeting commenced, recently, in Goa, under the leadership of R. K. Singh, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy of the Government of India. The inaugural session witnessed the participation of ministers from over 30 countries, heads of delegations, and representatives of international organizations.

During the Ministerial, R. K. Singh addressed the barriers hindering the energy transition and proposed ways to overcome them. He emphasized the collective responsibility of combating climate change and praised India’s lower per capita carbon emissions due to a simple lifestyle. The country’s focus on reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing renewable energy generation was highlighted, with ambitious targets set to meet 50percentage of energy requirements from non-fossil sources by 2030 and generate more than 500 GW of renewable energy by the same year.

 He also mentioned India’s successful initiatives, such as the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme for industries, resulting in significant emission reductions. The country’s exploration of various renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen, along with energy efficiency programs, has further contributed to emissions reductions.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat from NITI Aayog stressed the need to shift away from fossil fuels for a sustainable future. He regarded the meeting as a transformative journey towards global clean energy transition and sustainability, requiring a reduced reliance on fossil fuels and increased adoption of renewable sources.

Ms. Jennifer M. Granholm, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, praised India’s leadership in the global energy transition and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among nations, businesses, cities, and institutions to achieve ambitious clean energy goals.

Dr. Eleanor Webster, Head of Secretariat, Mission Innovation, emphasized the role of leadership in responding to the climate crisis and advocated for global cooperation to address the magnitude of the challenge.

Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil, announced Brazil’s commitment to host the MI Ministerial Meeting alongside its G20 presidency next year. He praised India for its contribution and highlighted Brazil’s dedication to clean energy solutions in the fight against climate change.

Perspectives were also shared by representatives from international organizations, including Dr. Fatih Birol from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Francesco La Camera from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi from UN Energy, and Dr. Ajay Mathur from the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) serves as a crucial global forum of 29 countries to promote clean energy technology, share best practices, and encourage the transition to a clean energy economy. Mission Innovation (MI), with 23 countries and the European Commission, aims to accelerate the clean energy revolution and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and pathways to net-zero emissions.