The Indian Express
A reference to coal phase-out and suggestion to end fresh investments in coal prevented India from endorsing a renewable energy pledge at the COP28 climate meeting, and a mention of health sector emissions is expected to keep it away from a declaration on health as well.
The pledge was mainly about tripling global renewable energy installed capacity by 2030, something that India had already backed as part of the G20 grouping. But the pledge, taken by more than 100 countries Saturday, included references to coal phase-out and an end to fresh investments in that sector, something that India could not sign on to.
India has repeatedly made it clear that it would continue to use coal for electricity generation in the near future even as it ramps up the capacity of renewable energy sources. Just ahead of the COP28 meeting, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kawatra had reiterated the same line in a press conference in New Delhi, saying India’s economic and developmental imperatives did not allow for a sudden abandonment of coal, as is often demanded.
