Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar has said that India has reduced the emissions intensity of GDP by 21 per cent and is on track to achieve the goal of 35 per cent emissions reduction as promised in Paris.

Mr Javadekar was addressing 25th session of Conference of Parties (COP) under the UN framework convention of Climate Change, in Madrid, Spain today.

He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced 175 Giga Watts targets for renewable energy under Paris Agreement and India has already achieved 83 Giga Watts so far.

Mr. Javadekar said, Prime Minister has subsequently increased the target to 450 Giga Watts at the recent UN Climate Action Summit. He said, India is simultaneously progressing on solar, biomass and wind energy.

The Minister said, from April next year the vehicles will be Bharat Standard Six (VI) compliant for emission norms.

He said, India has promised the creation of additional carbon sinks of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon equivalent through increasing green cover and in last five years, India’s green cover has increased by 15,000 sq.km.

Mr. Javadekar said, India has taken up a target for the restoration of 26 million of degraded land by 2030 during the 14th COP of UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Delhi and this is one of the largest programs in the world to ensure carbon sink in land resources.

He said, 100 per cent Neem coating of urea fertilizer is appreciated by the world and 170 million soil health cards are taking care of the soil health, thus creating more carbon sinks.

Drawing the attention of the world on finance-related issues, the Minister said, the developed world promised 1 trillion dollar in the last 10 years, and not even 2 per cent has materialized. He said, India has and will continue to do its bit and expecting commensurate multilateral action with developed countries taking the lead.