Climate Action Is an Opportunity for Growth, Not a Constraint: VP Radhakrishnan

Vice-President of India C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said climate action should be seen as a strategic opportunity for India rather than a limitation on development, stressing that it can help drive inclusive growth, strengthen energy security and prepare the economy for the future.

Delivering the inaugural address at the Bharat Climate Forum 2026 in New Delhi, the Vice-President said India’s approach to climate and sustainability is rooted in its civilisational values. He noted that long before climate change became a global policy concern, Indian traditions had emphasised balance between human activity and nature, reflected in water conservation practices, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection and ethical ideas such as Prakriti and Aparigraha.

Commending the Council for International Economic Understanding for creating the Forum as a platform for serious discussion and action, he said India’s development path over the last decade has consistently tried to balance growth with equity, and present needs with future responsibility. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, India has reshaped how a developing country engages with climate responsibility.

Referring to India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP26, the Vice-President said the targets provide a clear roadmap towards a low-carbon future, including the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, while keeping development priorities firmly in view.

He underlined the need for India to build its own clean-technology capabilities, saying a developed nation cannot rely on imported technologies or fragile global supply chains. According to him, India’s future must be built on domestic clean technologies, resilient manufacturing and a skilled workforce. He said the country is steadily emerging as a global manufacturing hub for renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, electric mobility, sustainable materials, climate-smart agriculture and digital climate solutions.

The Vice-President pointed out that Indian companies are investing heavily in solar module manufacturing, batteries, electric vehicle components, electrolysers and green fuels. At the same time, start-ups are driving innovation in areas such as climate data, energy efficiency and waste management.

On international cooperation, he said climate change is a shared global challenge that demands collective action. India’s partnerships, he said, are based on collaboration rather than dependence. As a founding force behind the International Solar Alliance, India has brought together countries of the Global South around affordable solar solutions. Its leadership of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, he added, shows a forward-looking effort to protect infrastructure and development gains from climate-related risks.

The event was attended by N K Singh, Chairman of the Bharat Climate Forum and former Rajya Sabha member; Meenakshi Lekhi, Convenor of the Forum and former Union Minister; Sumant Sinha, Co-Chair of the Forum; and Ashwani Mahajan, President of the Bharat Climate Forum, along with policymakers, industry leaders, experts and academics from India and abroad.

Source: PIB