NewsMobile Special Report: India’s Path To A Greener And Cleaner Future

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry has just wrapped his visit to India. Both countries discussed U.S.-India cooperation on addressing the climate crisis and raising global ambition heading into President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate April 22-23 and the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Both countries affirmed that the two nations’ shared a common desire to combat climate change. They mutually agreed that the United States and India can creatively collaborate on a 2030 agenda for clean and green technologies in the service of the planet.

NewsMobile spoke to Debi Goenka, an environmentalist and Executive Trustee at the  Conservation Action Trust to get a unique perspective on India’s path to a greener future.

‘India is showing a leadership role when it comes to climate change. India is setting a higher target more than what is required in the Paris protocol’, said Goenka speaking to NewsMobile’s senior editor Shivangi Shukla.

Net-zero emissions did come up on the agenda of the meet. Kerry had said that India pledging net-zero carbon emissions is not an “absolute requirement”.

NewsMobile Special Report: In Conversation With Environmentalist Debi Goenka (@mangrovesindia) with NM’s @shuklashivangi9

US #Climate Envoy #JohnKerry‘s India Visit Exclusive: Paving Way For A Greener, Cleaner Future#environment @moefcc

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‘The per capita electric consumption In India is among the lowest in the world.. Indians emit less Co2 than many developed countries. These developed countries have the infrastructure they need in terms of basic amenities for every citizen. To match the lifestyle, we have to emit more Co2, therefore India has to take a nuanced stand towards net-zero’, said Debi Goenka.

Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. What it means is that a country’s emissions are compensated by the absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

‘The Ministry of Environment’s role is to protect biodiversity.The greater the area we have under forest, the more the climate change impact is controlled. Forest mangroves are natural infrastructure given to us by nature.’ Goenka said.

Apart from the role of the government and world bodies like the United Nations, what can young adults and the citizens do in their day to day lives to ensure a better planet for the next generation?

‘Don’t waste any resources especially natural resources,  use public transport, avoid wasting paper, stop being a consumerist and try and repair any damaged possession instead of buying a new one’, Goenka signed off.