RenewableEnergy – UN Roundtable Highlights India’s Green Power Push
RenewableEnergy – India’s rapid expansion in clean power capacity will take center stage during a United Nations roundtable in New Delhi, reflecting the country’s growing role in the global energy transition. The meeting has been scheduled as part of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to India and underscores renewable energy as one of his key priorities during the trip.
UN Focuses on India’s Renewable Momentum
According to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the roundtable will bring together senior representatives from industry, finance, policymaking bodies, and civil society organisations. The discussions will focus on accelerating renewable energy deployment and strengthening the broader shift away from fossil fuels, with India increasingly viewed as a leading force in expanding clean energy capacity.
The session forms part of the Secretary-General’s wider effort to promote a faster and more equitable global transition to sustainable energy systems. The initiative aligns with commitments under the Paris Agreement, which calls for coordinated international action to limit global temperature rise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Concrete Steps on Investment and Infrastructure
Officials indicated that the agenda will move beyond general statements of intent. Participants are expected to deliberate on practical measures, including scaling up renewable energy projects, modernising electricity grids, enhancing battery storage capacity, and unlocking greater financial investment for green infrastructure.
Strengthening grid systems and improving storage solutions are seen as critical to ensuring that renewable sources such as solar and wind can reliably meet rising energy demand. Mobilising both domestic and international investment will also be central to achieving long-term climate targets.
India’s Climate Commitments and Progress
India has set ambitious climate goals for 2030. The country has pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its gross domestic product by 45 percent compared to 2005 levels. It has also committed to ensuring that half of its installed electricity capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources and to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes through forest and tree cover expansion.
Recent government statements suggest steady progress toward these objectives. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking last week at the Munich Security Conference, said India has already achieved nearly two-thirds of its nationally determined contributions ahead of schedule. She noted that this milestone has been reached four years earlier than originally planned.
Sitharaman emphasised that India has largely financed its climate initiatives through domestic resources while simultaneously deploying homegrown technology solutions. She pointed out that government spending on climate-related action has risen significantly in recent years. Around six years ago, approximately 3.7 percent of GDP was allocated to climate measures. That figure has now increased to nearly 5.6 percent, reflecting a deeper fiscal commitment to sustainability.
At the same time, she reiterated that international cooperation on finance and technology remains important, particularly for developing economies facing the dual challenge of economic growth and environmental responsibility.
Visit Also Tied to AI Impact Summit 2026
Guterres’ visit to India coincides with the AI Impact Summit 2026, a major global conference focused on artificial intelligence and sustainable development. The summit, hosted by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is being held in New Delhi from February 16 to 20.
The gathering marks one of the largest international forums on artificial intelligence to be hosted in the Global South. Governments, multilateral organisations, technology companies, academic experts, and civil society groups are participating to explore how AI can be developed and deployed responsibly.
Discussions at the summit are expected to examine the role of artificial intelligence in advancing sustainable development goals, improving public services, and supporting climate resilience, while also addressing ethical standards and governance frameworks.
The convergence of the renewable energy roundtable and the AI summit highlights India’s growing engagement with two defining global transitions: clean energy and digital transformation. As international attention turns to New Delhi this week, the outcomes of these meetings may shape both climate cooperation and technology governance in the years ahead.