Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Modi Highlights Climate Inequality, Defends India’s Nuclear Energy Push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at an international environment and climate conference.
He said richer countries produce much more carbon pollution per person than India.
He argued that developing countries should not be blamed unfairly for climate change.
Modi said India’s carbon emissions per person are less than half the world average.
He said India is building more renewable energy and nuclear energy.
He also said some environmental groups oppose nuclear projects by taking them to court.
Modi said India has already met its Paris climate promises ahead of time.
He described India’s goal as fast development that is also sustainable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said developed nations emit six times more carbon per person than India.
He said developing countries are often unfairly blamed for climate change despite India’s per-capita emissions being below the global average.
Modi said India is rapidly expanding nuclear energy while also focusing on renewable energy.
He criticized environmental advocates who, he said, oppose nuclear initiatives through court cases.
Modi said India has fulfilled its Paris (COP 21) commitments ahead of schedule and is pursuing speedy, sustainable development.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, environmental experts, Supreme Court judges, legal experts and senior government officials.
- What
- Modi inaugurated an international conference and discussed climate inequality, India’s emissions, renewable energy and nuclear power.
- When
- Saturday; the conference was a two-day event.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- Modi said climate responsibility is often unfairly assigned to developing countries and defended India’s energy and environmental policies.
Government’s Position
Environmental Critics’ Position
Nuclear energy
Government’s Position
Modi said nuclear power is a clean-energy solution and that India is moving quickly to expand nuclear generation.
Environmental Critics’ Position
Modi said people who speak strongly about environmental protection have opposed the government’s nuclear initiatives by filing court cases.
- India’s per-capita emissions
- Less than half the global average, according to Modi.
- Developed nations’ emissions
- Six times higher per person than India’s, according to Modi.
- Conference
- An international conference on environment and climate.
- Energy focus
- India is pursuing renewable energy and rapidly expanding nuclear energy generation.
- Paris commitments
- Modi said India is the only G20 nation to have already fulfilled its Paris (COP 21) commitments ahead of schedule.
- Development approach
- Modi described India’s development as both speedy and sustainable.
