Developed nations emit six times more carbon per capita than India: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday challenged what he termed the "wrongly placed" responsibility for carbon emissions on developing nations, saying developed countries generate six times higher per capita emissions compared to India.

Addressing delegates at a two-day international conference on environment and climate in New Delhi, Modi highlighted that India's per capita carbon emissions remain less than half the global average. The event brought together environmental experts, Supreme Court judges, legal professionals, and senior government officials to discuss climate and environmental challenges.

"The historical truth is that even today, developing countries are often unfairly blamed for carbon emissions," Modi said, underlining New Delhi's commitment to presenting these facts in international forums. The prime minister's remarks reflected India's position in ongoing global climate negotiations, where the nation has consistently argued for differentiated responsibilities between developed and developing economies.

Modi also touched upon domestic energy policy, noting resistance from environmental advocates to nuclear energy expansion despite its low-carbon benefits. He suggested that some critics approach nuclear projects with legal challenges despite professing environmental commitments, pointing to what he viewed as inconsistencies in global environmental discourse.