Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, announced that power generation rises from renewable sources in India have increased by 86% since 2014, rising from 193.5 billion units (BU) to 360 BU. He shared this update during his keynote address at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany.

How is India leading the world in renewable energy and sustainable practices?

In his speech, Minister Pralhad Joshi discussed India’s expanding role in global efforts to promote sustainability. He mentioned that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has greatly increased its renewable energy capacity. Since 2014, India’s renewable energy capacity has grown by 175%, from 75 gigawatts (GW) to over 208 GW.

Minister Pralhad Joshi also mentioned that India is a global leader in fighting climate change. He pointed to the International Solar Alliance, which includes over 100 countries and shows India’s commitment to using solar energy as part of global climate action. He also said that India is working to grow its green shipping industry, with the goal of becoming one of the top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and the top five by 2047.

Power generation rises
Image Source: विकिपीडिया

During his visit to Germany, which began on October 6, Joshi is set to hold a series of bilateral meetings aimed at boosting cooperation in sustainable development, green hydrogen, low-cost financing, and renewable energy. The minister also spoke about India’s energy transition and the importance of renewable energy in the country's future growth.

"India is the only G20 country to have met its climate targets ahead of schedule, despite having the lowest per capita emissions among G20 nations," said Joshi. He added that energy security and access remain critical for India, but the country is committed to transitioning to renewable energy, both nationally and globally.

Joshi also discussed the importance of sustainable shipping, noting the role of the maritime industry in global trade and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions. He emphasized that achieving net-zero emissions in the maritime sector is crucial for the global effort to fight climate change.

Renewable energy and its role in protecting the environment

Renewable energy is very important because it helps protect the environment, reduces the need for fossil fuels like coal and oil, and ensures that we can keep using energy in the future without damaging the planet. As the world needs more energy, switching to renewable sources is becoming essential to both protect the environment and support economic growth.

One of the main benefits of renewable energy is that it helps reduce harmful greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2), which cause global warming. In India, renewable energy projects have stopped millions of tons of CO2 from being released into the air every year. Using renewable energy also helps conserve natural resources, as it reduces the need to burn coal, oil, and gas. This is important for keeping the environment healthy and ensuring we don’t run out of these resources.

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