Modi accuses developed nations of shifting climate blame to India

PM Modi inaugurates NGT's climate conference, highlights climate inequality

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused developed nations of unfairly shifting blame for carbon emissions onto developing countries, asserting that per capita emissions in developed countries remain six times higher than India's. Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day international conference on environment and climate organised by the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi, he called on Indians to forcefully present this disparity on global platforms.

Historical responsibility questioned

"We all know that the responsibility for carbon emissions has often been wrongly placed on developing countries. While the historical truth is that even today, India's contribution to per capita carbon emissions is less than half of the global average," Mr Modi said at the event. He emphasised that New Delhi strongly presents the fact of this six-fold difference at international forums and urged every Indian to do the same.

The Prime Minister also criticised what he described as selective environmental activism, pointing to domestic resistance against nuclear energy projects. "Whenever he takes forward work on nuclear energy generation, people who always talk about the environment will move court to stop it," he said.

India's climate performance

Mr Modi highlighted India's renewable energy push and its status as the only G20 nation to have already met its Paris Agreement (COP 21) commitments ahead of schedule. "This is the power of New India. Non-fossil fuels, solar energy capacity, stoppage on carbon emissions... India's performance on all such metrics is being discussed across the world," he stated.

He said India is working with the rest of the world and setting new standards for environmental protection while focusing on renewable energy.

Global participation at NGT conference

The conference has drawn environmental experts, Supreme Court judges, High Court judges, District Court judges, secretaries of various ministries, senior government officials, and representatives of State judicial academies, State Legal Services Authorities, State Expert Appraisal Committees, State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities, State Wetland Authorities and other stakeholders. Judges and judicial representatives from 17 countries are also participating.

President Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal, Justice P.S. Narasimha of the Supreme Court, Justice Shrivastava and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta will attend the valedictory session.

Conference objectives

The National Green Tribunal said the conference would provide a platform to discuss major environmental and climate challenges facing the world. It will focus on identifying gaps in policy-making and implementation, sharing successful practices and strengthening cooperation among institutions and stakeholders.

Four technical sessions on key environmental issues will be held, and the conference will seek to develop a road map for dealing with present and future challenges. The Tribunal stated the aim was to strengthen environmental justice and institutional cooperation, and to promote dialogue on the growing challenges arising from the relationship between environment, climate change, development and justice.

The event was inaugurated on September 19, 2026, and the valedictory session is scheduled for September 20, 2026.

Source: The Hindu