India was among the first G20 nations to fulfill its Paris commitments on Green Energy – PM Modi.
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the International Conference on Green Hydrogen via video message today. He emphasized the growing realization that climate change is not just a matter of the future but its impact can be felt now. “The time for action is here and now”, PM Modi exclaimed. He noted that energy transition and sustainability have become central to global policy discourse.
Highlighting the nation’s dedication to building a cleaner and greener world, the Prime Minister announced that India was one of the first G20 countries to meet its Paris Agreement commitments on green energy. He mentioned that these goals were achieved nine years ahead of the 2030 deadline. Reflecting on the progress made over the past decade, the Prime Minister shared that India’s non-fossil fuel capacity grew by almost 300%, while solar energy capacity saw a remarkable increase of over 3,000%. He emphasized that India is not complacent with these successes and remains focused on enhancing current solutions, while exploring new and innovative areas, particularly in the field of Green Hydrogen.
“Green Hydrogen is emerging as a promising addition to the world’s energy landscape”, the Prime Minister remarked, adding that it can help in decarbonizing industries which are difficult to electrify. The Prime Minister cited examples of industries such as refineries, fertilizers, steel, and heavy-duty transportation that stand to benefit from Green Hydrogen. He also proposed its use as a storage solution for excess renewable energy. Speaking about the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in 2023, PM Modi outlined India’s ambition to become a global leader in the production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen. He stated that the mission is driving innovation, infrastructure development, industrial growth, and investment. The Prime Minister highlighted significant investments in advanced research, collaborations between industry and academia, and support for start-ups and entrepreneurs. Additionally, he emphasized the potential for creating a green jobs ecosystem and stressed the government’s efforts to enhance skill development for the nation’s youth in this sector.
Addressing global concerns about climate change and the energy transition, the Prime Minister emphasized that solutions to these challenges must also be global. He highlighted the importance of international partnerships in enhancing Green Hydrogen’s role in decarbonization, noting that cooperation can accelerate production, reduce costs, and improve infrastructure. He also called for joint investments in research and innovation to advance technology. Reflecting on the G20 Summit held in India in September 2023, the Prime Minister emphasized the focus on Green Hydrogen and pointed out that the New Delhi G-20 Leaders’ declaration introduced five high-level voluntary principles on Hydrogen, contributing to the development of a unified roadmap. “All of us must remember – the decisions we make now will decide the lives of our future generations”, he added.
Prime Minister Modi today emphasized the need for increased global cooperation to advance the Green Hydrogen sector, urging experts and the scientific community to take the lead. He highlighted the importance of collaboration among domain experts to tackle the challenges in the Green Hydrogen industry. The Prime Minister also encouraged scientists and innovators to suggest public policy reforms that could further strengthen the sector. PM Modi posed critical questions to the global scientific community, asking, “Can we improve the efficiency of electrolysers and other components in Green Hydrogen production? Can we explore the use of seawater and municipal wastewater for production?” He highlighted the need to address these challenges, particularly in using Green Hydrogen for public transport, shipping, and inland waterways. “Exploring such topics together will greatly help the green energy transition across the world,” the Prime Minister stated, expressing confidence that forums like the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen would drive meaningful exchanges on these issues.
Reflecting on humanity’s history of overcoming challenges, the Prime Minister stated, “We have always overcome adversities through collective and innovative solutions.” He stressed that this same spirit of collaboration and innovation would lead the world toward a sustainable future. PM Modi emphasized, “Together, we can achieve anything,” calling for united global efforts to accelerate the advancement and implementation of Green Hydrogen.