At the United Nations Climate Action Summit, India has agreed to increase its renewable energy target to 450 GW.
India’s renewable energy target under the Paris Agreement was 175GW by 2022.
India also reiterated to spend approximately $50 billion “in the next few years” on the Jal Jeevan Mission to conserve water, harvest rainwater and develop water resources.
80 countries have already joined the International Solar Alliance initiated by India.
About the Summit
The UN Climate Action Summit 2019 was hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at New York.
Teen Climate change activist Greta Thunberg of Sweden opened the Summit.
Around 63 nations have been invited to the summit including delegation led by Prime Minister Modi.
They were urged to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or their climate action plan to fulfill commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Why is it important?
As per UN estimates, the world would need to increase its efforts fivefold to contain climate change to a 1.5°C rise at most.
Any temperature rise beyond that would lead to major and irreversible damage.