India’s per capita carbon emissions below half global average; developing nations wrongly blamed: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India’s per capita carbon emissions are less than half the global average, while arguing that the responsibility for carbon emissions has often been wrongly placed on developing countries.

Speaking at the International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics”, Modi also highlighted India’s progress on environmental issues over the past 12 years and said the country had fulfilled its commitments under the Paris climate agreement ahead of schedule.

“Often, the responsibility for carbon emissions has been wrongly placed on developing countries. While the historical truth is this... even today, India's contribution to per capita carbon emissions is less than half of the global average,” Modi said.


The Prime Minister said India had made progress across sectors linked to the environment over the past 12 years, with renewable energy being a major focus.

“Over the past 12 years, in every field related to the environment, in every sector... India has made extraordinary progress. Our major focus has been on renewable energy, and this has played a significant role in environmental protection,” PM Modi said.

He also said India was the only G20 country to have fulfilled its commitments made at the COP-21 summit in Paris ahead of schedule.

“India is the only country in the G-20 that has demonstrated fulfillment of the commitments made at the COP-21 Summit in Paris ahead of schedule,” he said.

Modi also said expanding nuclear energy generation could face legal challenges from environmental groups.

“When I take forward work on nuclear energy generation, people who give long lectures on environment will move court to stop it,” PM Modi said.

Addressing the conference, Modi said India had historically guided the world on matters related to nature and the environment and was drawing on that experience to address present-day climate challenges.

“For centuries, India has, in a sense, guided the world on matters concerning nature and the environment. Drawing upon that ideological commitment and its own cultural experiences, India is offering solutions to modern climate challenges while simultaneously calling for collective global action. I am pleased that this NGT conference is advancing that very mission,” he said.

Modi also launched the NGT Mobile App at the conference.