Coming from the Global South and particularly from a nation which has substantial fossil fuel reserves which include 60.6 billion tonnes of coal, 5.7 billion barrels of oil and 1.4 trillion cubic feet of gas and where people can freely use it, the biggest fight of my generation is to let go fossil fuel. Yes, India is a country which has to fight to decarbonize its economy. The basic reason for doing this is because fossil fuel harms people and most importantly our planet. We need to do this to ensure that the global temperature stays below the 2?C. This is primarily important because when policies and infrastructure will fail to keep the global temperature below the 2?C limit, it will bring catastrophe for the planet and humankind.

In photo: Indian Prime Minister Mr. Nodi speaking at COP 21. Photo Credit: India Today. 

It is a matter of extreme happiness that the leadership of the country is in responsible hands and we are letting go fossil fuels. At the COP 21 in Paris, Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi said, ?by 2030, we will reduce emissions by 33 to 35 percent of 2005 levels and produce 40% of our power/electricity from non-fossil fuels." There words of Mr. Modi have not been mere speech but the Indian government is translating it into action and moving towards a clean energy revolution. Union Minister of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy Mr. Pirush Goyal recently stated that India is all set to integrate large amounts of renewable energy which he also termed as the world?s largest clean energy expansion program. This transition to a decarbonized energy will help India to meet the target of 175 GW of clean energy. At the Vienna Energy Forum, Mr. Goyal emphasized that ?we must decouple economic growth from environmental impacts and leave a better world?.

India which is the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide is also seen as a front runner in the fight against climate change. At the climate talks in Paris, Mr. Modi also launched an International Solar Alliance which aimed at raising $1 trillion to power the developing world. Today, Mr. Modi?s promise has been turned into action. Indian is perhaps seen as an example of the revolution in the green energy. In India, solar power is replacing coal as a source of energy. This is primarily because India gets more than 300 sunny days and thus has the most favorable condition to capture solar energy in the world. India is enthusiastically embracing renewables, LED lighting and electric cars. India?s energy revolution is not only transforming the county but coming up as an example for other countries to follow the same path. 

Barsa is an environmentalist working in India and holds a BA degree in Environmental Policy from Columbia University, USA.