Modi and Hollande to launch global Solar Alliance at COP21

Obama agreed with Modi that climate change is an “urgent threat” while saying that it one of the major areas for deeper cooperation between the United States and India.

“We’re seeing them put forth their national interest, but you’re also seeing a willingness to negotiate”, said Jennifer Morgan, an expert on worldwide climate change negotiations with the World Resources Institute, a research organization.

“This day is the sunrise of new hope – not just for clean energy, but for villages and homes still in darkness; and for our mornings and evenings filled with a clear view of the glory of the sun”, said Prime Minister Modi; who also committed India to sourcing 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2030. “It is making the dream of universal access to clean energy become more real”.

A separate ‘Breakthrough energy coalition’, which will act as an investment platform for clean energy projects is also being launched on Monday by Bill Gates and the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg.

India has also pledged to curb its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35 per cent from the 2005 level. We have set out 175 gigawatt of solar and renewable energy.

“The entire world, 196 nations, have come together to shape the future of this world and the health of our planet”, said Modi.

“We are reducing dependence on fossil fuel through levies and reduction in subsidies; switching sources of fuel where possible; and, transforming cities and public transportation”. “Anything else would be morally wrong”, he wrote, adding: “Justice demands that, with what little carbon we can still safely burn, developing countries are allowed to grow”.

The extent of their commitment and the strength of their action must be consistent with the carbon space they occupy.

He said there was a need for a strong agreement on adaptation and loss and damage. Want to make conventional energy cleaner and renewable energy cheaper.

“Energy is a basic human need”.

At the start of his address, Modi refereed to the horrific Paris attacks earlier this month that claimed over 120 lives.

Let me begin by once again expressing solidarity with the people of France; And, our deepest admiration being such an outstanding host to the world in a hard moment. Hailing Noor Jehan, Modi said she is working as per the meaning of her name – “giving light to the world”.

He noted that over next few days, nations will decide the fate of this planet. It is the result of global warming that came from an industrial age powered by fossil fuel.

But the summit’s inaugural day also saw the launch of three multilateral initiatives to combat climate change – an worldwide solar alliance spearheaded by India, a clean energy innovation plan involving 20 countries, and a Breakthrough Energy Coalition by 28 private investors, including America’s Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and India’s Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani.

The Indian government is reported to be investing an initial $90m (£60bn) in setting up the alliance headquarters in India, with an eventual goal of raising $400m from membership fees, and global agencies. We will be investing almost 30 billion dollars for afforestation programme.