Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted India’s relatively low per capita carbon emissions, saying the country’s emissions per person remain less than half the global average despite the pressure often placed on developing nations over climate change.

Addressing the International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics” in New Delhi, Modi said developed countries have per capita carbon emissions that are six times higher than India’s.

“We are all aware that the responsibility for carbon emissions has often been unfairly attributed to developing countries,” Modi said, referring to the position India has maintained on global climate platforms.

He said India’s per capita emissions are still below half the global average and urged Indians to maintain the same determination while addressing environmental challenges.

The Prime Minister also pointed to India’s progress in the environmental sector over the past 12 years, saying renewable energy has been a major focus of the country’s climate efforts.

Modi said India is the only G20 country to have fulfilled all the commitments it made at the COP21 Paris climate summit ahead of schedule.

He cited India’s progress in areas including non-fossil fuel use, solar energy capacity and efforts to curb carbon emissions, saying the country’s performance is now being discussed internationally.

The Prime Minister also referred to a range of India-led climate and environmental initiatives, including One Sun, One World, One Grid, the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the Global Biofuel Alliance, the International Big Cat Alliance and Mission LiFE.

According to Modi, these initiatives reflect India’s approach of combining environmental protection with collective international action.

India’s climate message: development and responsibility

Modi said India has drawn on its traditions and cultural practices in presenting solutions to modern environmental challenges.

He also argued that the historical contribution to global carbon emissions should be considered when discussing climate responsibility, particularly in the context of developing countries and the Global South.

India has repeatedly raised the issue of equity and per capita emissions in international climate discussions. The government has also maintained that climate action should account for the differing circumstances and development needs of countries.

At the conference, organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Modi said India was seeking to combine its own environmental efforts with calls for wider global cooperation.

The two-day conference is being held in New Delhi on September 19 and 20, bringing together environmental experts, judges and other stakeholders from India and several countries to discuss climate challenges and environmental governance.

PM Modi launches NGT mobile app

During the event, Modi also launched the NGT Mobile App.

The launch came as the conference focused on strengthening environmental governance and improving cooperation around climate and environmental challenges.