Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav stated today that India is implementing systemic reforms across four strategic pillars: energy transformation, sustainable economic transition, nature-based solutions, and digital environmental governance.
Speaking at the inaugural session of The Energy and Resources Institute-TERI's World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) in New Delhi, Mr. Yadav said that transformation does not mean abandoning development, but rather redefining it within ecological limits, with social justice and intergenerational equity. He also mentioned that India aims to achieve 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels, and advance the National Green Hydrogen Mission, as well as build climate-resilient industries. Mr. Yadav emphasized that India has consistently upheld the principles of common but differentiated responsibility, climate justice, equitable carbon space, and inclusive carbon markets.
The Minister also congratulated TERI for launching the Himalayan Coalition, which highlights the importance of community-centred and inclusive approaches to sustainable development. He specifically mentioned Him-CONNECT, a structured platform to translate research supported under the National Mission of Himalayan Studies into scalable solutions. Mr. Yadav stated that Him-CONNECT aligns with India's broader sustainability approach, which places communities at the center of environmental action. The three-day summit marks the 25th edition of WSDS. This year, the summit's theme is "Transformations: Vision, Voices, and Values for Sustainable Development."