Indian prime minister assures Kerry country committed to Paris climate pledges

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told U.S. Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry on Wednesday that his country remains committed to meeting its goals under the Paris climate agreement.

India’s External Affairs Ministry said Kerry had voiced the U.S.’s support for India’s climate plan during a meeting with Modi, The Associated Press reports. Kerry said the U.S. would help India with affordable access to green technology and financing, according to the report.

According to a statement from the External Affairs Ministry, Modi said cooperation between the U.S. and India on employing green technology would positively influence other countries.

The AP notes that under the Paris climate agreement, India is committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions intensity of its gross domestic product by 33 percent to 35 percent by the year 2030. It is also committed to increasing nonfossil fuel up to 40 percent from 28 percent, and also increasing forest cover to reduce carbon dioxide.

Prakash Javadekar, India’s environment minister, has recently said that India has achieved 21 percent of its greenhouse gas reduction goal, the AP reports.

Prior to his meeting with Modi, Kerry praised India for “getting the job done” when it came to combatting climate change.

“India is getting the job done on climate, pushing the curve,” Kerry said in New Delhi. “You are indisputably a world leader already in the deployment of renewable energy.”

Despite its successes in reducing emissions, India is unlikely to join the U.S. in its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 due to the large energy demands it is expected to have in the coming years.

Kerry is on a tour of the United Arab Emirates, India and Bangladesh for consultations on how to combat climate change leading up to President Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate scheduled for April 22 and 23.