No adverse impact on India due to climate change pact: Govt

NEW DELHI, Dec 22:
Government today assured the Lok Sabha that there would be no adverse impact on India’s development due to commitments made at the Paris climate summit as the country will attain sustainable growth even while reducing its carbon emissions.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the outcome of the Paris climate summit was a victory for India and the country would reduce its carbon emissions.
“We will work on carbon efficiency path,” he said in reply to questions.
Earlier this month, 195 countries reached a deal to attempt to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than two degree celsius at the climate change summit in Paris.
Whatever India has agreed to at the Paris (summit) would not have any adverse impact on the country’s development and poverty alleviation efforts, he noted.
Elaborating on the outcome of the Paris climate talks, the Minister said it has been decided that differentiated action would be taken by developed and developing countries with respect to reducing carbon emissions.
A target has been set to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in forests, he added.
Besides, efforts are being made to increase the forest cover to 33 per cent in the long term.
“We will walk the talk… We will not stop (on our) growth path. We will attain sustainable growth,” he said.
As per the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCS), India aims to have 40 per cent of total installed power generation capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
The renewable energy generation capacity is projected to increase to 1,75,000 MW by 2022 from 35,000 MW as on March this year.
“India is aiming to generate 100 GW of solar power, 60 GW of power from wind, 10 GW bio-mass power and 5 GW small hydro power by 2022,” Javadekar said. (PTI)