India’s ISRO to develop ‘solar power calculator’ for world: Modi at COP26

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will soon provide the world a solar power calculator, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. This will help measure solar energy potential of any region across the globe, Modi said. “One world, one Sun, one grid can tackle challenge of solar power being available only during day; it will improve viability of solar power,” Modi said. Modi said energy from the Sun is totally clean and totally sustainable, while the race to amass fossil fuels had created geopolitical tensions.

COP26: Over 80 countries sign ‘game changing’ methane pledge

He said technological advances provided a great alternative in the form of solar power to energy obtained from fossils. “Fossil fuel powered many nations to become wealthy during industrial revolution, but it made our earth, our environment poor,” Modi said.

Addressing the summit, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Modi as among global leaders who understand very well how to tackle climate change.

On Monday, Modi told the summit that India will achieve net-zero climate target by 2070.

He also pledged that India will raise its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW and fulfill 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy by 2030. He claimed that the “entire world admits that India is the only major economy that has delivered on Paris agreements in letter and spirit.”

COP26: What to expect from the climate summit

More than 80 countries have pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by the end of 2030 as the United States and European Union flagged the need to tackle the greenhouse gas as crucial to limiting global warming to 1.5C. US President Joe Biden termed the pledge as “game-changing commitment.”

Around 120 world leaders and thousands of delegates are attending the two-week long 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. A UN report, called a “code red for humanity,” earlier this year called for “urgent steps” to reduce methane emissions.