Developing nations wrongly blamed for emissions, says Modi; claims India met all Paris pledges

Environment & Climate Change · 20 September 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at an international conference organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi, asserted that developing nations are often unfairly blamed for global carbon emissions. Highlighting historical responsibility, he noted that India’s per capita emissions remain less than half the global average, whereas developed nations emit roughly six times as much. Mr. Modi claimed that India is the sole G20 nation to have fulfilled all its Paris Agreement commitments ahead of schedule, noting exponential growth in solar capacity (rising from ~2 GW to over 160 GW) and non-fossil fuel capacity nearing 53%. Furthermore, he flagged regulatory and legal hurdles impeding nuclear energy expansion, even as private sector participation has been enabled via legislative steps like the SHANTI Act. The conference also foregrounded broader international climate concerns, including UNEP warnings on global warming trajectories and escalating demands from climate-vulnerable nations for accountability, climate finance, and access to mechanisms like the Loss and Damage Fund following extreme weather events.

Why it's in the news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made these remarks during the inauguration of an international conference on 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics', organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi.

Facts to remember

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at an international conference organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi.
• The National Green Tribunal is a statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of environmental cases.
• India submitted its first Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Background and context

India submitted its first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement in 2015, committing to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030, achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030, and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover. Independent assessments and official submissions indicate that India has met its emissions-intensity and non-fossil capacity goals ahead of schedule. The debate surrounding climate equity hinges on the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), which recognizes historical emissions of developed economies versus current developmental needs of the Global South.

Constitutional provisions

• Article 48A — Directives Principles of State Policy (DPSP) obligates the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51A(g) — Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Committees and reports

• UNEP Emissions Gap / Limiting Overshoot Report — Highlights global warming projections, indicating that current NDCs fall short of keeping warming below 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius.

International organisations

• National Green Tribunal (NGT) — Statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — Primary global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and publishes key assessments like the Emissions Gap reports.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

• Mains GS-3 2021 — Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference?
• Mains GS-3 2025 — Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?
• Prelims GS-1 2016 — With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017. 2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 °C or even 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. 3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Mains practice: Examine the principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities' (CBDR) in contemporary climate geopolitics, especially regarding the allocation of emissions responsibility between the Global North and the Global South.

Introduction:

The principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), codified under the UNFCCC, acknowledges that while all nations share a collective duty to address global climate change, developed countries bear a heavier historical burden due to their early industrialization and disproportionate cumulative emissions.

Body:

• Historical Responsibility vs. Current Flows: Developed nations account for the vast majority of cumulative historical emissions, whereas developing nations like India maintain per capita emissions significantly below global averages.

• Equity and Development Space: Developing countries in the Global South require adequate carbon space to lift millions out of poverty, expand infrastructure, and ensure energy security without being subjected to premature restrictions.

• Performance on Commitments: India's recent fulfillment of its Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets ahead of schedule—exemplified by massive scaling of solar capacity (exceeding 160 GW) and non-fossil targets—demonstrates proactive climate action from the Global South despite resource constraints.

• Structural Hurdles and Climate Finance: Developing nations frequently face barriers such as inadequate technology transfer, protectionist trade measures (e.g., CBAM), and sluggish climate finance flows from the Global North, complicating mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Conclusion:

Global climate governance must move beyond shifting blame onto developing nations. True multilateral cooperation requires honouring historical debts, scaling up Loss and Damage financing, and ensuring equitable technology access to meet the existential challenge of climate change without compromising developmental justice.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding India's commitments under the Paris Agreement: 1. India's per capita carbon emissions are higher than the global average. 2. India has met its non-fossil capacity and emissions-intensity targets under its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) ahead of schedule. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect because India's per capita carbon emissions are less than half the global average. Statement 2 is correct as independent assessments and official disclosures confirm that India met its emissions-intensity and non-fossil capacity goals ahead of schedule.

Q2. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), which recently organized an international conference on climate dynamics, is established under which of the following?

1. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
2. An executive resolution of the Union Cabinet
3. A constitutional provision under Article 323A
4. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Answer: D. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a statutory body established on October 18, 2010, under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.

Q3. Which of the following international organizations publishes the 'Emissions Gap Report' or similar assessments tracking global temperature goals?

1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
2. World Trade Organization (WTO)
3. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
4. World Bank

Answer: A. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regularly publishes reports such as the Emissions Gap Report and Limiting Overshoot reports tracking global progress against Paris Agreement temperature goals.

Revision flashcards

• What is the core principle underlying India's stance that developing nations are wrongly blamed for emissions? Historical responsibility and per capita emissions (CBDR-RC), noting that India's per capita emissions are less than half the global average.
• Who organized the international conference on 'The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics' in New Delhi? The National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• What milestone has India achieved regarding its first Paris Agreement NDCs? It fulfilled its quantitative emissions-intensity and non-fossil fuel capacity targets ahead of schedule.
• What is the legal status of the National Green Tribunal (NGT)? It is a statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• What does the UNEP's Limiting Overshoot report warn about global warming? It warns that global warming is set to cross 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next few years, falling short of strict Paris goals.