Prevent mindless utilisation, promote mindful consumption: Bhupender Yadav

NEW DELHI: The need for citizens to cultivate an "environmental sense" is as important as anything that the government can do, said Bhupender Yadav, the minister for environment, forest and climate change.

At the first India Climate Summit of the Times Network on Friday, Yadav pointed out carbon emission-intensive anthropocentric development, unsustainable consumption patterns, and desertification as three pressing issues that confront the world today.

Instead of being either a catastrophist or a techno-optimist, Yadav proposed that citizens strike a middle path by developing an environmental sense.


"Environmental sense is what each one of us can do to prevent mindless utilisation and focus instead on mindful consumption," he said. Highlighting the strides taken by India in its climate action programme, he said: "The findings of these (greenhouse gas emissions inventory) reports suggest that despite being home to 18% of the global population, India's carbon emissions account for less than 4%." For Yadav, the most noteworthy aspect of the "green growth of India" is that the compound annual growth rate "of the Indian economy at 7% outstrips the CAGR of emissions at 4%". On the revision to its nationally determined contributions (NDC), he said: "We have achieved, 11 years in advance, our original target of reduction emission intensity by 33-35% over the 2005 levels by 2030. As a proactive nation, India has already revised its emission intensity reduction target by 45% by 2030 over 2005 levels." He added: "India's share of non-fossil fuel source based installed capacity of electricity generation in 2023 was more than 41%. India achieved its NDC of 40% cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil fuel energy sources in 2021, nine years in advance of 2030."

Saurabh Kumar, vice president of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, India, said: "The need of the hour is a high-powered energy transitions commission for an integrated approach towards planning that takes into account the needs of the consumer."