India’s growing solar capacity has got United Nations’ appreciation when UN Chief Antonio Guterres said the world is moving towards a green economy at a time when “unprecedented” climate change is posing a threat to development. Renewable energy and recycling of energy has no doubt caught the world attention as the demand and supply for the energy has increased tremendously. Around the world, over half of new power generation capacity now comes from renewables. In Europe, the figure is more than 90 per cent. In the US and China, new renewable energy jobs now outstrip those created in the oil and gas industries. We are dealing with scientific facts, not politics. And the facts are clear. Climate change is a direct threat in itself, and a multiplier of many other threats. Climate change is an unprecedented and growing threat to peace and prosperity and the same in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Paris Agreement on climate change adopted in December 2015 is unique in its universality, with every single government having signed it. The pact entered force in less than a year and to date more than 130 countries have ratified it. The reason for this consensus is clear: all nations recognise that implementing the 2030 Agenda goes hand-in-glove with limiting global temperature rise and increasing climate resilience. The year 2016 was the hottest on record and sea ice is at a historic low and sea levels at a historic high. These trends are indisputable explains the consequences of climate change to include food insecurity, water scarcity, poverty and displacement. Tackling climate change is a tremendous opportunity for governments and business as there is no trade-off between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. Green business is good business. Climate action is a necessity and can advance the attainment of sustainable development goals. How we go about it can be the subject of scientific and political debate. But there is no question that we must act, urgently and decisively, now for a sustainable future.
