India to cut carbon emission levels substantially: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India would cut carbon emission levels substantially by 2030 by expanding renewable energy.

"We have set ambitious targets. By 2030, we will reduce emissions by 35 percent of 2005 levels, and 40 percent of our installed capacity from non-fossil fuels," Modi said while the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 climate summit that got underway here.

"We will achieve it by expanding renewable energy - for example by adding 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2022," he said.

"We will enlarge our forest cover to absorb at least 2.5 billion tonnes worth of carbon dioxide."

He said India was reducing its dependence on fossil fuels through levies and reduction in subsidies and switching sources of fuel wherever possible.

"We look to the developed countries to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation," the prime minister said.

"Democratic India must grow rapidly to meet the aspirations of 1.25 billion people, 300 million of whom are without access to energy," he said adding that in the next few days, "we will decide the fate of this planet".