New Delhi: India is “uniquely positioned” to lead the world’s inevitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, a senior United Nations climate official said on Wednesday, underlining that the global shift is now driven as much by economics and energy security as by environmental urgency.
Addressing the second edition of the Bharat Climate Forum in New Delhi, Selwin Hart, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, said the transformation of energy systems worldwide was “unstoppable” and rooted in cost, competitiveness, resilience and access. Countries that move early, he said, will shape future industries and supply chains, while those that lag will remain vulnerable to volatility and declining competitiveness.
“Over the past decade, India has rapidly scaled up renewable energy deployment, driven down costs, and expanded its manufacturing capacity. India is now among the world’s fastest-growing clean energy markets, with solar and wind expanding at record levels,” Hart said.
Citing India’s rapid progress, Hart noted that the country’s installed solar capacity has grown from about 32 megawatts in 2010-11 to nearly 130 gigawatts today — a more than 3,000-fold increase in little over a decade. He also praised India’s leadership through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, which has mobilised nations across the Global South to accelerate solar deployment and build institutional capacity, according to an official release.
Delivering the inaugural address at the Bharat Climate Forum, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said climate action is not a constraint on India’s development but a strategic opportunity to drive inclusive growth, strengthen energy security and build a future-ready economy. India’s engagement with sustainability is rooted in its civilisational ethos, which has long emphasised harmony between human activity and nature, he noted.
Referring to India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP-26, the Vice-President said the goals chart a clear pathway towards a low-carbon future while safeguarding development priorities, including the target of net-zero emissions by 2070. He stressed that a developed India cannot rely on imported technologies alone and must be built on homegrown clean-tech manufacturing, resilient supply chains and a skilled workforce, PIB India reported.
Highlighting India’s growing footprint in renewables, electric mobility, green hydrogen and climate-smart solutions, Radhakrishnan said Indian companies and start-ups are increasingly positioning the country as a global maker of clean technologies. He added that India’s leadership in platforms such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure reflects a model of collaboration without dependence in tackling a shared global challenge.
Among those present on the occasion were Chairman, Bharat Climate Forum and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Shri N. K. Singh; Convenor, Bharat Climate Forum and former Union Minister, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi; Co-Chair, Bharat Climate Forum, Shri Sumant Sinha; and President, Bharat Climate Forum, Dr. Ashwani Mahajan, along with policymakers, industry leaders, experts, academics and other stakeholders from across the world.
