NEW DELHI — Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, delivered the keynote address at the ‘Advancing Resilience with Climate Change’ dialogue today, positioning India as a top global performer in climate action. Highlighting the “India growth story,” the Minister detailed the country’s rapid renewable energy expansion and its deepening economic ties with over a dozen nations.
Global Leadership in Climate Action
Shri Goyal emphasized that India has transitioned from a perceived “naysayer” to a proactive global leader, consistently ranking among the top three G20 countries in achieving climate targets.
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Renewable Milestones: India met its initial renewable energy goals eight years ahead of schedule. From a solar capacity plan of 20 GW in 2014, the country has already achieved 260 GW.
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Future Targets: The government has set an ambitious goal of 500 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030.
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Energy Efficiency: The Minister highlighted India’s LED lighting transition as the fastest globally, achieved within three years through data-driven approaches and the removal of subsidies.
Strengthening the “One Nation, One Grid” Vision
The Minister discussed critical structural reforms in the power sector that have stabilized the national economy:
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Grid Integration: The creation of a unified national grid has ended regional disparities, reducing peak power costs in some areas from ₹12 per unit to approximately ₹2.5–3 per unit.
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Base Load & Planning: Extensive planning, including 29 specialized studies, has been conducted to balance intermittent renewable energy with a strong base load capacity.
Expanding Global Economic Footprint
India is currently in active dialogue with 12 countries and regions to forge new trade and economic partnerships. Key engagements include:
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The Americas: Peru, Chile, Canada, and Brazil.
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Middle East: Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
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Eurasia & Africa: Russia, Israel, South Africa, and their neighboring regions.
“The world today recognizes the India growth story. Climate action has transformed from a compulsion into an economically viable proposition that creates jobs and export potential.” — Shri Piyush Goyal
A Call for “Climate Justice”
Invoking the principle of trusteeship, the Minister reminded the audience that the current generation holds the planet in trust for the next. He emphasized:
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Inter-generational Responsibility: A collective consciousness is required from businesses and citizens alike.
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Economic Viability: Leading renewable companies are now driving job creation and future exports in technology and capital goods.
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Behavioral Change: Simple actions, such as energy conservation and water saving, are essential to achieving national sustainability goals.
The Minister concluded by assuring the Government of India’s full support for stakeholders committed to building a secure, resilient, and sustainable world.
