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Describing climate change as a major global challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India wants the world to work with urgency to agree on a comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement at the summit.
"Climate change is a major global challenge. But it is not of our making," Modi said as he inaugurated a unique India Pavilion here at UN climate summit, showcasing the country's commitment to combat green-house gas emission.
Noting that the outcome of the summit is very important, the Prime Minister said, "We want the world to work with urgency... We want a comprehensive, equitable and durable agreement in Paris."
He said India's progress is "our destiny and right of our people. But we must also lead in combating climate change." Modi, accompanied by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, went to various stalls at the Pavilion and later released a book on environment protection. In Paris, Modi will jointly host a meeting of International Solar Alliance with President of France, Francois Hollande.
"Our Pavilion reflected our commitment towards combating climate change," said Javadekar.
The pavilion will also showcase films on adaptation measures taken up by India. Officials said that around 40 films which will have around 21GB of information on adaptations will continuously run on the screen.
There are touch screens to provide information to visitors on how India has taken adaptation measures in four regions, including conservation of coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar, glacier protection in Ladakh, heat action plans in Ahmedabad and Gujarat amongst others.
India has announced that it aims at achieving around 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
It has also pledged to curb its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 35 per cent from the 2005 level.
Photograph: Reuters