From COVID-19 vaccines to climate action: Top UN official hails India for being “active, influential”

A top United Nations official has said that this year, more than ever, the international community counts on India for its contribution to multilateralism as a force for good – from COVID-19 vaccines to climate action and peacekeeping.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, addressing the inaugural session of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 Wednesday, hailed efforts by India to bolster its renewable energy basket and achieve its climate action goals.

Top UN official hails India for being “active, influential”

“India is currently the only G20 country that will overachieve the objectives of its nationally determined contributions. So much has been done already,” Mohammed said.

“As India is seeking greater energy security through a revolution in solar, wind and energy storage, installing 450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 will bring more jobs, cleaner air and a more secure power grid,” she said.

She underlined that India’s efforts provide a “template and a path” for others to follow, in particular through the international cooperation that this very institute represents.

“This year, more than ever, we count on India for its contribution to multilateralism as a force for good on COVID-19 vaccines, climate action and peacekeeping. Extreme weather and pathogens are transnational. Our solutions must be, as well,” she said.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed expresses her condolence:

Mohammed began her address by expressing her condolences to the people and the government of India for the loss of life and damage caused by the glacier burst and flash flood in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday.

“Climate change is destabilising our world, and the consequences are often terrifying. My heart goes out to Uttarakhand,” she said, adding that such catastrophes remind nations of their global imperative to make peace with nature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 via video conferencing.

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The theme of the Summit, which is the flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’.

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