G7 summit: PM pushes for wider energy access

Should not be a privilege of only rich countries at a time when costs are rising due to geopolitical tensions, says Modi

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday pushed back against the suggestion that developing countries cause more damage to the environment at the G7 Summit, and said India, home to 17% of world population, accounts for only 5% of global carbon emissions.

Addressing a special session with the theme "Investing in a better future: Climate, energy, health" at the summit in the German resort of Schloss Elmau, Modi said access to energy shouldn't the privilege of only the rich at a time when energy costs are increasing because of geopolitical tensions.

Germany, the current president of G7, invited the leaders of India, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina and Senegal to the summit of seven of the world's largest economies in an effort to strengthen global collaboration on issues such as climate action, health and energy security.

Modi also participated in another session focused on food security and gender equality, and held bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In his speech at the session on climate change and energy, Modi said: "It is believed that there is a fundamental collision between the developmental goals of the world and environmental protection. There is also another misconception that poor countries and poor people cause more damage to the environment."

Speaking in Hindi, he added, "Seventeen percent of the world's population resides in India. But our contribution of global carbon emissions is only 5%. The main reason behind this is our lifestyle, which is based on the theory of co-existence with nature."