The United States (US) Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was on a two day visit to India on September 12-14, 2021. The focus of the visit was to meet with Government of India counterparts and private sector leaders to discuss efforts to raise global climate ambition and speed India’s clean energy transition.
- In this regard, bilateral meet was held where both sides discussed a wide range of climate issues relating to Conference of the Parties (COP26), Climate Ambition, Climate Finance, Global Climate Initiatives including International Solar Alliance (ISA), Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C).
This visit was also as a part of the US initiative to bolster climate efforts ahead of the 26th COP26 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will be held from October 31 to November 12, 2021 in Glasgow, the United Kingdom (UK).
India-US launched Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD):
During his visit, India-US the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) was launched which is one of the two main tracks of the US-India Agenda 2030 Partnership that US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the Leaders Summit on Climate in April, 2020.
- CAFMD was officially launched by the Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and John Kerry at an event held in New Delhi.
- Its aim is to expand cooperation in clean energy projects and resilient economic development.
Union Power Minister RK Singh met John Kerry
Union Minister Raj Kumar Singh, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) met with John Kerry to discuss various issues related to climate change and energy transition.
- The Minister announced that India will invite bids for green hydrogen in the next three to four months to encourage viable usage of hydrogen as a fuel.
Points to be noted:
i.Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, India has pledged to reduce emissions intensity of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 33%-35% below the 2005 level by 2030 and raise the non-fossil share of power generation capacity to 40% by 2030, among other pledges.
ii.India has an ambitious plan of having 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
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