India to launch mission to cut emissions by 99 mn tonnes: PM

India will spare no efforts to contribute to the success of post-Copenhagen process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared today as he announced the launch of a National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency aimed at cutting carbon emissions by 99 million tonnes.

Inaugurating an international summit on climate change here, Singh said India has already committed itself to a path of sustainable development based on a graduated shift to the extent possible from the use of fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy, including nuclear energy.

Within the ambit of our National Action Plan on Climate Change, India has already unveiled one of the world's most ambitious plans for promoting solar energy, targeting an installed capacity of 20,000 MW by the year 2022, he told the meet being attended by Presidents, Prime Ministers and Energy Ministers of several countries.

"I wish to assure this distinguished gathering that India will spare no effort in contributing to the success of the post-Copenhagen process," he said at the 10th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.

"We will soon launch an ambitious National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency that will put in place an innovative policy and regulatory regime to unlock the market for energy efficiency, estimated at over 15 billion dollar," Singh said.

He said the initiative is expected to lead to avoidance of capacity addition of nearly 20,000 MW and reduce carbon dioxide emissions of almost 99 million tonnes.