The green deal: Renewable energy became the new buzzword in 2021
The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) brought together 120 world leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the occasion to announce 2070 as India’s target to reach net-zero carbon emissions, two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India also committed to use renewable energy to meet 50% of its energy needs and reduce carbon emission by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. The talks ended with a deal to address the climate crisis but only after a last-minute intervention by India — backed by China and other coal-reliant nations — calling on parties to accelerate efforts to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal power, the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
