Enviro News Asia, New Delhi — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the country’s progress in renewable energy, clean transportation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture and environmental protection while inaugurating the International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics” at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on September 19, 2026.
Modi said India was demonstrating how economic development and environmental sustainability could advance together. He also argued that global discussions on carbon emissions should consider historical and per-capita differences between developed and developing countries.
The prime minister said India’s environmental strategy over the past 12 years had focused strongly on renewable energy and other clean technologies. He cited India’s participation in international initiatives including the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Global Biofuel Alliance and International Big Cat Alliance.
According to Modi, India is the only G20 member to have met its Paris Agreement commitments from COP21 ahead of schedule. He highlighted growth in non-fossil energy capacity and solar power as key elements of the country’s energy transition.
India’s solar power capacity, he said, has increased from around 2 gigawatts 12 years ago to more than 160 gigawatts. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, more than five million households have received support for rooftop solar installations, with financial assistance of up to 80,000 rupees per household.
Modi also said around three million farmers had received solar pumps under the PM-KUSUM scheme. He cited the completion of the One Nation-One Grid initiative and said the integrated power network had helped avoid an estimated 200 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
The prime minister also pointed to growth in wind and hydropower capacity and the government’s renewed focus on nuclear power. He said India’s non-fossil energy capacity had nearly quadrupled while the country was also pursuing technologies such as coal gasification.
Clean transportation was another focus of the address. Modi highlighted the launch of India’s first hydrogen-powered train, which he described as the world’s longest hydrogen train, as a development in the country’s efforts to expand low-emission mobility.
He also cited a substantial increase in electric vehicle adoption. According to figures presented by Modi, annual EV sales rose from fewer than 3,000 units before 2014 to around 2.5 million units last year.
The prime minister said digital toll collection through FASTag had also reduced vehicle waiting times at toll plazas, helping limit fuel consumption associated with prolonged idling.
India’s metro rail network has also expanded, according to Modi. He compared the five-city, 250-kilometer network recorded in 2014 with the current system operating in more than 20 cities and extending beyond 1,000 kilometers.
Railway electrification and freight transport were also highlighted. Modi said the near-completion of railway electrification had reduced diesel consumption, while the approximately 3,000-kilometer Dedicated Freight Corridor was enabling double-stack container trains to transport cargo that would otherwise require large numbers of trucks.
He also cited the development of around 5,000 kilometers of operational inland waterways. According to Modi, inland vessels can carry cargo equivalent to the loads transported by numerous road vehicles, potentially reducing the environmental burden associated with freight transport.
Water conservation formed another major part of the prime minister’s address. He said more than 70,000 Amrit Sarovars had been constructed and that the Catch the Rain campaign had supported the creation of around 15 million rainwater harvesting structures.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the “Per Drop, More Crop” initiative, modern irrigation techniques are being promoted among more than 20 million farmers, Modi said.
He also highlighted the expansion of millet cultivation, describing millets as water-efficient crops that can support both food production and water conservation. India’s millet exports have reached around 150,000 tonnes, according to figures presented during the address.
In sustainable agriculture, Modi said the National Mission on Natural Farming had established 24,000 natural farming clusters covering approximately 1.25 million hectares. He also cited the development of 3,000 climate-resilient crop varieties and the promotion of agroforestry as part of efforts to reduce environmental pressures.
On forests, Modi said very dense forest cover had increased by more than 22 percent over the past 12 years. He also highlighted the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree-planting campaign, which encourages citizens to participate in nationwide tree planting.
The prime minister also addressed plastic pollution and waste management. He reiterated India’s restrictions on single-use plastics and highlighted efforts to develop a circular economy based on reducing, reusing and recycling waste.
He cited the Gobardhan Yojana as an example of converting rural organic waste into useful resources, including energy and other products. The approach, he said, reflects an effort to treat waste as a resource rather than solely as an environmental burden.
Modi said the environmental indicators presented during the conference represented not only domestic development but also India’s contribution to addressing global environmental challenges.
He expressed confidence that discussions at the international conference would generate further solutions to climate and environmental challenges and called for continued efforts toward what he described as a responsible and sustainable future. (*)
