Big, bold announcement by Modi at COP26, net-zero goal by 2070

Glasgow: Offering a new mantra and raising its pledge for combating climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told world leaders at the COP26 that India will target a net-zero goal by the year 2070 and aim at increasing its non-fossil fuel energy to 500 GW in its energy mix by 2030.
Terming it as ‘Panchamrut Ki Saugat’ – India’s contribution to climate action called as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Modi while speaking on the first day of the high-level segment at the COP26 said India will reduce its carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 starting with reducing projected carbon emission from now till 2030 by 1 billion tonnes and committed to having renewable energy component of 50 per cent by 2030.
Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development through a sustainable lifestyle. Displaying his penchant for acronyms, Modi said ‘One Word One World’ movement mantra — ‘Life, Lifestyle for Environment’ can be a mass movement wherein instead of mindless and destructive consumption, there should be mindful and deliberate utilisation.
India’s earlier target was to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels with already 24 per cent achieved by 2016. Ahead of the COP, India was under pressure from rich nations to declare a net-zero target year — where the amount of carbon emitted needs to be balanced with either removal or absorption of the equal amount — but had declared that it will be done at an appropriate movement.
The west has always painted India as the third-largest emitter after China and the US while India has maintained its per capita emissions are nowhere near the highest emitters.
However, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing media after the day’s events here denied there was any outside pressure.