India on track to reduce emissions: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that despite scepticism, India is on the path of reducing emission by 20 to 25 per cent over 2005 levels by 2020.

Addressing the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) here, he said that India's goal is to create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 which once seemed difficult to many.

"Yet we continue our steady progress on that path. According to the UNEP Gap Report, India is on track to meet its Copenhagen Pledge of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20 to 25 per cent over 2005 levels by 2020," Modi said

He added the government is doing everything required to ensure equality, equity and climate justice.

"We must also stress on climate justice for all vulnerable populations. We in India are focused on ease of living through good governance, sustainable livelihood and through cleaner environment," said the Prime Minister, citing a National Geographic report on environmental sustainability.

"Recently, National Geographic's Greendex Report of 2014 which assesses the environmental sustainability of consumer choice ranked India at the top for its greenest consumption pattern."

WSDS is the flagship forum of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and seeks to bring together on a common platform, global leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainable development, energy and environment sectors.

--IANS

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