'Indo-US vow to tackle climate change will benefit both'

New York, Jun 7: With US and India reaffirming their commitment to tackle climate change, a global research organization today said that the clean energy initiatives announced by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring mutual benefits.

Modi, currently on a three-day US visit at the invitation of President Obama, met the US leader in the White House.

The new US-India joint announcement on Climate and Clean Energy includes announcements on a number of climate and energy related issues including the Paris Agreement, Montreal Protocol and clean energy.

World Resources Institute (WRI) President and CEO Andrew Steer said in a statement that Obama and Modi are delivering on their common understanding and resolve that long-term prosperity must be underpinned by a stable climate.

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"Modi and Obama deserve credit for not shying away from historically contentious issues, like curbing dangerous hydrofluorocarbons," Steer said adding that the announcement signals that the US and India are overcoming the few remaining differences between them.

"The clean energy initiatives announced will bring mutual benefits and spur greater and faster uptake of renewable energy in India. Increased US investment from public and private sectors will help deliver more clean electricity to rural populations and communities that will promote their economic development," the institute said.

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"India's support for the Montreal Protocol may well be the tipping point that leads the world to curb these fast-growing, potent greenhouse gases. Limiting HFC emissions has greater potential for limiting warming in the short-term than any other approach, potentially avoiding as much as 1 degree Fahrenheit of global temperature rise by the end of the century," he said.

WRI said with India now on board, a growing chorus of countries are seeking to bring the Paris Agreement into full effect as soon as possible and early entry into force of the historic agreement will inspire leaders around the world to take action to reduce climate risks and enhance resilience.

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"India's commitment to greatly expand clean, affordable electricity is beyond doubt. The country not only has one of the boldest renewable energy targets in the world, but also one of the largest markets for wind and solar technologies. India's renewable energy goals make it clear that incremental change is insufficient to meet today’s challenges," he said.

[Read: Joint Statement Released after Narendra Modi and Barack Obama meeting ]

Obama, in his final months in office, continues to push for bold climate action by expanding partnerships with India, China, Vietnam, Brazil and more. "President Obama can cement his climate legacy and ensure a brighter future for all people by continuing to rally the global community to bring the Paris Agreement into force as soon as possible," WRI said.

PTI