India, the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has been ramping up its use of renewable energy - but coal remains its dominant fuel for power production.
“India must end its reliance on polluting, financially volatile and costly fossil fuels,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a virtual address to the New Delhi-based environment think-tank The Energy and Resources Institute.
“Investing in fossil fuels means more deaths and illness and rising healthcare costs. It is, simply put, a human disaster and bad economics.”
He urged India to instead invest in solar power, which he said could tackle poverty by generating jobs at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has destroyed livelihoods and also boost access to energy for 64 million Indians who live without power.
“With the Covid-19 pandemic threatening to push many people back into poverty, such job creation is an opportunity that can’t be missed,” he said, adding that investment in renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels.
Guterres called for a halt on commitments to new coal power after 2020, saying “the coal business is going up in smoke” as growing numbers of large investors abandon its use.
Neither the environment ministry nor the power ministry responded to repeated requests for comment.
India is the world’s biggest consumer of coal for power after China.
The coal ministry said on Tuesday that it plans to significantly reduce its coal imports in “the next few years” and boost local production to improve the economies of states in central India, where most coal mines are located.
The country’s coal demand this year has fallen after strict lockdowns hit the economy.
Pam Bondi advocates for revoking student…
26-11-2024
President-elect Trump's Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, has ignited controversy over her stance on deporting foreign students supporting Hamas. In a recent interview, Bondi advocated for revoking visas of students...
Read moreElon Musk not the only billionaire inter…
26-11-2024
Comcast chief Brian Roberts is moving MSNBC and a half dozen other cable channels into SpinCo, a pure-play cable programming company. Comcast told CNN that the transaction will take about...
Read moreDonald Trump Jr buys 3,900 acres Maine h…
26-11-2024
Donald Trump Jr. and partners bought 3,900 acres of Maine hunting land from the family of Republican congressional candidate Austin Theriault, who recently lost to Democrat Jared Golden. "Can you...
Read moreMan who bought duct-taped banana from au…
26-11-2024
Tron founder Justin Sun, known for his $6.2 million banana art purchase, has invested $30 million in Donald Trump's new crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, and became the largest investor...
Read more'Odour' detected on Sunita Williams led-…
26-11-2024
A Russian supply ship brought food and equipment to the International Space Station. Cosmonauts detected a strange smell. They closed a hatch and turned on air purifiers. ...
Read moreRed Sea disaster: 16 missing after yacht…
26-11-2024
A tourist yacht, Sea Story, sank in the Red Sea near Marsa Alam, Egypt, after being hit by a large wave. 28 of the 44 passengers were rescued, but...
Read moreComing soon: Donald Trump’s AI czar to b…
26-11-2024
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly mulling over the appointment of an "AI czar" to spearhead federal AI policy. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk won't be taking the position, his influence...
Read moreWalmart alters diversity policies, moves…
26-11-2024
Walmart revised its diversity and inclusion policies, discontinuing its Racial Equity Centre and withdrawing from the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. Following discussions with activist Robby Starbuck, the company...
Read more'Yeah, whatever lmao': Elon Musk, netize…
26-11-2024
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei criticized Elon Musk's claim that "citizen journalists" are replacing traditional media. VandeHei defended professional journalism's importance, comparing it to neurosurgery. Musk responded dismissively on X...
Read more'Judge Dredd is coming to town’: Elon Mu…
26-11-2024
Incoming border security chief Tom Homan clashed with Denver Mayor Michael Johnston over the city potentially obstructing federal deportations. Homan threatened legal action against Johnston, while Elon Musk compared...
Read more‘Replace Jew with Brahmin’: How particip…
26-11-2024
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has accused The New York Times and Bloomberg of suppressing a study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) that reveals harmful impacts of caste-based...
Read moreProsecutors seek 20-year sentence for ma…
26-11-2024
French prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence for Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging and facilitating the rape of his wife by dozens of men. The trial, involving 50 defendants, concluded arguments...
Read morePutin signs law forgiving debt arrears f…
26-11-2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law forgiving up to $95,835 in debt for new army recruits who sign at least one-year contracts to fight in Ukraine. This measure, effective...
Read moreKing Charles and Queen Camilla set to em…
26-11-2024
King Charles III, while continuing his cancer recovery, is planning a major tour of South Asia in 2024, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This follows a successful trip to...
Read moreWatch: Opposition lawmakers clash with S…
25-11-2024
A brawl erupted in Serbia's parliament after opposition lawmakers accused the ruling party of responsibility for a deadly train station roof collapse. Opposition members displayed accusatory banners and chanted...
Read more'Bullet with bullet': Imran Khan support…
25-11-2024
Thousands of supporters of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with police in Islamabad, defying a government ban and demanding his release. Security forces responded with tear...
Read more'Price of fentanyl will rise sharply': E…
25-11-2024
President-elect Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He proposes a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian...
Read moreHong Kong court grants housing and inher…
25-11-2024
Hong Kong's highest court has delivered a landmark victory for LGBTQ+ rights, affirming same-sex couples' housing and inheritance rights. The court ruled against government appeals, deeming the exclusion of same-sex...
Read more'You better start packing now': Trump’s …
25-11-2024
Tom Homan, Trump's appointed border czar, is preparing a comprehensive deportation plan prioritizing the removal of illegal immigrants, many of whom he says should have been deported under previous administrations...
Read moreWhy hundreds of Pakistanis are ready to …
25-11-2024
Supporters of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan march on Islamabad, protesting against the Shehbaz Sharif government and demanding Khan's release. The government vows to suppress the protests, while the US...
Read more