PM Modi receives UN’s highest environmental honour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron received United Nation’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’ award that was announced on Wednesday. They were recognised in the ‘Policy Leadership Category’ for spearheading and making immense contribution in championing’ the International Solar Alliance and “new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action”.

PM Modi received the award for his “bold environmental leadership on the global stage.” The UN Environment Programme said, “Under Modi’s leadership, India pledged to eliminate all single-use plastics in the country by 2022. Prime Minister Modi also supports and champions the International Solar Alliance, a global partnership to scale up solar energy.”

Official Spokesperson of MEA, Raveesh Kumar said, “It’s a big honour to receive such award together with the President of France…It’s a big honour not only for PM Modi but also for India.”

The BJP President Amit Shah tweeted, “It is a matter of great pride for every Indian that PM Modi has been awarded the UN Champions of the Earth Award in the Policy Leadership category. This is the UN’s highest recognition for people whose actions have had a transformative impact on the environment.”

Solar Power in India is one of the fastest growing industries. As of June, India’s solar capacity has reached 23 GW. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India managed to expand its solar-generation capacity 8 times from 2,650 MW on 26 May 2014 to over 20 GW as on 31 January 2018. The Modi government has pushed strongly towards solar power. The deadline to achieve 20 GW capacity was 2022 but the Modi government achieved the set target, four years in advance.PM Modi has increased the power capacity target for 2022 to 100 GW.

PM Modi along with the then France President Francois Hollande in 2015 launched International Solar Alliance. It is a coalition of solar resource-rich countries. While launching it PM Modi had said, “Of the 121 prospective nations, 61 have joined the alliance, 32 have also ratified the framework agreement. But in this alliance our biggest partner is the sun god which spreads light outside and gives strength to our resolve.”

On Environment Day (June 5) in 2018, PM Modi said, “When much of the world focused on inconvenient truth, we moved on to convenient action. It was this call for action that led India to headquarter the International Solar Alliance. This is the probably the single most important global development in the cause of environment after the Paris Declaration. Our experience says development can be environment friendly.” He further said, “We are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy and the sixth largest producer of renewable energy.”

The Cochin Airport also brought home the ‘Entrepreneurial Vision’ award for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. It is the world’s first solar powered airport. Its entire operations are powered by solar energy.

The UN EP statement read, “Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn’t have to harm the environment. As the pace of society continues to increase, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that green business is good business.”

From India, in the past, Afroz Shah has won the UN award. He won the award in 2016 for spearheading the world’s largest beach cleanup.