New Delhi, Dec 22 (NationPress) As India embarks on a journey toward a sustainable future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clean energy initiatives are unlocking extraordinary opportunities, which will assist India in reaching its Net Zero target while also elevating millions from poverty, underscored Erik Solheim, the Former Minister of Climate and the Environment of Norway.
Over the past nine years, nearly 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of "multidimensional poverty", with poverty rates decreasing to 11.28 percent in 2022-23 from 29.17 percent in 2013-14, as reported in a recent study by NITI Aayog.
In a conversation with IANS, Solheim noted that under PM Modi, India is committed to mainstreaming renewable energy, which will generate numerous economic prospects in the forthcoming years.
"I hold a positive outlook regarding the discussions between governments and industries concerning the green economy. For PM Modi, the green economy represents another avenue to elevate more individuals from poverty, assist the middle class in generating additional wealth, and enable the nation to shine on the global stage by harnessing the potential of solar, wind, hydropower, and all other green resources," the seasoned diplomat highlighted.
During his address at the recently held 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors' Meet in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Prime Minister remarked that the government has emphasized high-performance bio-manufacturing with the launch of the BioE3 policy, which aims to expedite India's shift towards green growth and a Net Zero carbon economy.
In the meantime, India added nearly 15 GW of renewable energy capacity between April and November in the current fiscal year, almost double the 7.54 GW added during the same timeframe last year, as stated by Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi.
The country’s total installed capacity in the non-fossil fuel energy sector has reached 214 GW, reflecting an increase of over 14 percent compared to the same period last year, as the nation aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.
A notable achievement of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is that it has completed over 6.85 lakh installations to date, poised to exceed a decade's worth of solar growth in just one year. Since its launch in February this year, the scheme has already reached 86 percent of the installations made in the decade prior.
Approximately 1.45 crore registrations have been recorded under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
According to the Norwegian diplomat, PM Modi's ambition to transform the green sector into a substantial economic opportunity is a pivotal moment for the nation.
"Transitioning to green will generate more employment and prosperity for millions of Indians. Simultaneously, it will significantly benefit Mother Earth, aiding environmental recovery," Solheim conveyed to IANS.
