Yadav Stresses Sustainable Development and Global Climate Cooperation

Speaking at the International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics”, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reminded the audience that today’s ecological woes do not stop at any border. He said the real choice is not between growth and the planet, but between a development that can be sustained and one that simply can’t.

Drawing on India’s long‑standing civilisational reverence for nature, Yadav said the country views the Earth as a shared inheritance – a trust that must be passed on intact. To back that up, he walked through India’s climate roadmap: 500 GW of non‑fossil‑fuel power by 2030, a 45 % cut in GDP‑related emissions intensity, and a net‑zero target for 2070. “More than half of our installed capacity is already clean,” he noted, underscoring the nation’s rapid renewable‑energy rollout.

Beyond the grid, the minister turned to wildlife, cheering progress in tiger, lion and elephant numbers and pointing to intensive programmes for vulture recovery and the Great Indian Bustard. He even shared the heart‑warming news of four cheetah cubs that arrived on Indian soil just two days earlier – a fresh sign that the country’s conservation drive is bearing fruit.

Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chair of the National Green Tribunal, echoed the sentiment of shared duty. “Environmental stewardship belongs to every sector – judges, scientists, policymakers and citizens alike,” he said, listing flagship initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, Jal Jeevan, AMRUT 2.0, Namami Gange, PM‑KUSUM, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Green India and the International Solar Alliance. All, he argued, signal an India that aspires to be cleaner, greener and more resilient.

Justice Shrivastava also warned that climate change is a justice issue: the poorest and those who have contributed least to the problem often suffer the most. “What kind of planet are we leaving for the next generation?” he asked, urging legal, institutional and social responses that move from principle to practice.

The two‑day conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhawan, gathered judges, environmental experts and senior officials from around the world. Its goal, as the NGT put it, is to strengthen environmental justice, foster institutional cooperation and translate dialogue into concrete action.