Greenpeace urges young MPs to lead a renewable energy revolution

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): A day before the announcement of the cabinet, Greenpeace has urged the young Members of Parliament to stand up to the 21st century challenge of making India prosperous by leading a Renewable Energy Revolution and saving the planet from the gravest danger it faces - climate change.

Greenpeace activists, with windmills and placards at 10 Janpath called on the young MPs to lead the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and provide the ministry with the required vision and decisive leadership.

"The renewable energy sector is a sure fire way for the emerging young political turks to address the twin agendas of poverty and opportunity" said Karuna Raina, Climate Campaigner Greenpeace.

"This will be the ministry that powers India in the 21st century and we need young people to lead us to an Energy Revolution that would revolutionize the development in villages. While India was amongst the first countries to institute a separate ministry for non conventional energy, the ministry has not delivered on its own promises and has shown a distinct lack of vision", she added.

Sonia Gandhi's office has confirmed a meeting with Greenpeace to discuss this issue, after the swearing-in of the new government on Friday.

"We see this as a positive step by the new Government and hope to see Renewable Energy taken up as a priority and critical portfolio", said Anasua Mukherjee, political spokesperson for Greenpeace.

Renewable energy can provide immediate access to electricity and power-reliant services in rural areas. It involves production, distribution and transmission of power in a decentralized model. A village can be completely self-sufficient with respect to electricity and energy if this decentralized model is created. This would not only provide millions who have no access to quality power today, but would also provide them livelihood and income generation opportunities.

In March this year, Greenpeace had set up solar panels powering fans and computers in the Zilla Parishad school and the secondary school in Kalavati's village Jalka (Maharashtra)- demonstrating that millions of Kalavati's across the country need not wait for years before they have access to clean and reliable energy.

"The world is moving in the direction of renewable energy and countries are competing to gain leadership in this industry.

India, has led an IT and telecom revolution in the past and should aim to lead the energy revolution now," Raina said. (ANI)