PM Modi to launch two major initiatives at Glasgow COP-26

New Delhi, Oct 28 (UNI) One of the important events at the COP26 in Glasgow will be the launch of the Global Green Grids Initiative-One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) of the International Solar Alliance, a global solar grid linking 140 countries, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson.
Prime Minister Modi along with UK Prime Minister Johnson and Australian PM Scott Morrison will separately launch the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS).
The OSOWOG project aims to harness solar energy wherever the sun is shining as the earth completes its 24-hour rotation around its axis, and transporting the electricity generated to areas that need it. The grid is to be developed in three phases.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, briefing the media on the COP26 summit visit of PM Modi, said the IRIS is an initiative of the Coalition of Disaster Resilient infrastructure for island countries. “This is primarily for small island developing states. This will be launched with the two other chairs, the UK Prime Minister and the Australian Prime Minister. It will also involve many world leaders who will be part of that effort,” he added.
He also said that India is well on its way to meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments, set under the Paris accord, and has also made unilateral announcements that have set the benchmark much higher for India and for other countries.
“Today India is creating new records in collective effort for climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience and forging multilateral alliances. We are among the top countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy, wind and solar energy capacity. Our capacity for renewable energy has increased by more than 250% in the last six or seven years and we are on course to achieve our target of 450 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030 that the Prime Minister declared last year,” Shringla said.
“There are national schemes such as ROSHANEE, which is the energy efficiency roadmap; UJJWALA which is the cooking gas mission; UJALA which is the LED lighting ; PM KUSUM, which is the solar energy for agriculture; Jal Jeevan mission is the drinking water supply mission. Energy efficiency, LED lights, clean cooking fuel, tap water have reached hundreds of millions of our citizens in the past few years. A comprehensive National Hydrogen Energy Mission with its emphasis on generating and utilising green hydrogen will be a quantum leap in tackling climate change. In his Independence Day address this year, the Prime Minister has put forth the vision of India as a global hub for green hydrogen production export in the coming 25 years,” he added.
He said India represents 1/6th of humanity and is one of the large countries also in terms of geographical space in the world. “For us, it is not just the domestic initiatives that we have taken, which is, I would say contributes greatly to the overall global actions and climate change. But we’ve also contributed to multilateral initiatives, in other words, global initiatives to deal with the issue of climate change. These initiatives are in the form of the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient infrastructure, among the fastest growing international organisations in the world, making important contributions to create low carbon pathways for industry transition, climate adaptation, enhancing infrastructure resilience, solar projects and technology.”
On the financial commitments of $100 billion, declared as an annual contribution towards climate change efforts, he said India would like to see such commitments converted into promises.
“The quantum of such financing is also in our view, inadequate, you need much more financing in order to reach the goals that have been set, the very ambitious goals that we need to collectively meet at a global level in order to achieve the 1.5 degrees that we’re talking about. And of course, the means of delivering that financing also has to be made clear,” he added.

He said green financing, green technology are important factors in enabling the world, particularly developing countries meet their commitments to the goals established under our climate change discussions.”
He said this aspect would occupy the leaders at the summit and the negotiators, “and this is something that we expect to see some outcomes on”.
“That effort that we’re making in developmental terms to achieve what is important in climate change terms has to be recognized, and has to be supported through appropriate financing and technology that has to be forthcoming from the international community, in particular the developed world has to look at how to make this something that is achievable and realizable, the goals and targets that we set for ourselves,” he added.
Shringla said that “We are going to Glasgow with a positive mind-set. India has always approached the issue of climate change in a manner that is constructive. As I said, we have not only set NDCs, we have set targets that far exceed the NDCs by ourselves within our own country. And we have every intention to reach it.
“But as I said, we would also expect that there would be commitments that would be forthcoming from those countries that have already peaked some time back, those countries that are occupying a much larger carbon space as it is and who I think would need to see how we can best work together in a spirit of collaboration to achieve our common objective of humanity in meeting our climate change objectives.”.
PM Modi, in his departure statement, referring to COP26, said: “In line with our tradition of living in harmony with nature and culture of deep respect for the planet, we are taking ambitious action on expanding clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and bio-diversity.”
“Today, India is creating new records in collective effort for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience and forging multilateral alliances. India is among the top countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy, wind and solar energy capacity.
“At the World Leaders Summit, I will share India’s excellent track record on climate action and our achievements,” he stressed.
The PM said he will also highlight the need to comprehensively address climate change issues including equitable distribution of carbon space, support for mitigation and adaptation and resilience building measures, mobilization of finance, technology transfer and importance of sustainable lifestyles for green and inclusive growth.
“COP26 Summit will also provide an opportunity to meet with all the stakeholders including leaders of partner countries, innovators and Inter-Governmental Organization and explore the possibilities for further accelerating our clean growth,” the PM added.
UNI/RN