Delhi, 11th December 2023: Transition fuels, cleaner energy sources and future mobility infrastructure were top of the agenda at the inaugural Mission Net Zero India Summit, which kicked off today at Yashobhoomi, IICC, Dwarka, New Delhi. The two-day national conference is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Department of Transport, Government of NCT of Delhi.

“India is a climate action leader despite the challenges it faces as a country. The country is already a frontrunner in demonstrating a model of growth which is sustainable, inclusive and climate-friendly. We have successfully managed the energy trilemma despite global turbulence. Even so, we have to develop a national pathway for green development aligning long-term ambitions with short and medium-term goals. To realize the vision of becoming a developed nation, an aspiration of our honourable prime minister, the country will be required to become energy efficient. The government has identified green growth as one of the country’s priorities and some of the key elements for green growth include utilizing non-fossil electricity, expanding installation capacity, implementing an efficient carbon transport system, and improving infrastructural efficiency. Furthermore, digitalisation and the growth of the circular economy are expected to play a crucial role in improving the efficacy of these green growth strategies.”  said Rajnath Ram, Advisor – Energy, NITI Aayog

On the first day of the Summit, industry leaders and policymakers deliberated on an actionable roadmap for achieving net–zero carbon emissions. The agenda for the day included discussions across three major themes: Energy Transition and Decarbonisation, AtoZero: India’s leadership in renewables, and Next Mobility: Zero and low carbon mobility. Key sessions at the summit emphasised an integrated energy approach for the energy sector to mitigate climate risks and empower India for environmental sustainability. Highlights on day one included sessions on expanding India’s renewable energy goals, the significance of mobilizing green investment, as well as the vast investment potential in developing India‘s clean mobility infrastructure.

“Firstly, I think implementing an annual tax for emissions generated by a country will not only help control global warming but it will also incentivize countries to work towards negative emissions. Secondly, India’s low-carbon inclusive growth strategy is fairly obvious. We are going to reduce our carbon impact by increasing energy efficiency and we are going to push for the implementation of a strong renewable energy ecosystem. As a country we will undertake various measures to achieve Net Zero and are working to execute it in many different ways.” said Dr Kirit Parikh, Chairman, of Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe).

Day 1 of the summit featured panels on topics such as ‘Corporate & PSUs commitment and collaboration: Achieving a balance between decarbonization and profitability’, ‘Pathway to decarbonizing Mobility and Transportation’, ‘Perspectives from Auto OEMs leading the way towards clean mobility’, ‘Net Zero Equity: Mobilizing Green Investment and Securing Public and Private Funding for Renewables and Grid Projects’, etc. These discussions brought together prominent industry leaders and policymakers like MK Tiwari Chief General Manager – Sustainable Development, GAIL India, Priyank Kuchhal, Director – Global Banking HSBC, and Virendra Goyal, Head BD-EV Charging TATA Power who shared their insights on ways the country can scale its efforts through sustainable energy management to achieve its Net Zero goals.

The second day of the event will be held on 8th December and will explore the role of Decarbonization, Emission Control Initiatives and BioEnergy resources in accelerating Energy Transition in India, the significance of Green energy in empowering India’s Net Zero Future, and the role of Next-Gen Technologies for a sustainable future of the automotive industry.