Delhi Could Hit 50°C Without Decarbonisation: Jayant Sinha
Former Union Minister Jayant Sinha warned that Delhi could face extreme temperatures of 50°C if India fails to decarbonise urgently. He stressed the need for clean energy, electric vehicles, and collective action to combat climate change and align development with sustainability.
Former Union Minister Jayant Sinha has issued a stark warning that Delhi could experience temperatures exceeding 50°C in the future if India does not take immediate and decisive steps towards decarbonisation. Speaking at the Transition Accelerator event, Sinha highlighted the deteriorating air quality and rising temperatures in the national capital, attributing much of the problem to fossil fuel-based vehicular emissions. He described the current situation as a 'moment of reckoning' for India, urging a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions and a shift towards clean energy, green infrastructure, and electric mobility. Sinha emphasized that India's developmental goals must go hand in hand with its climate commitments, stressing the importance of achieving net zero by 2070. He called for collective responsibility among policymakers, businesses, and citizens to ensure sustainable growth. Sinha also noted that India's economic aspirations and environmental goals are intertwined, and that the country's rise will only be meaningful if built on clean air, pure water, and climate resilience. On the sidelines of the event, James Schofield of ITA mentioned a pipeline of 65 green industrial projects with significant investment potential and emissions abatement, aiming to mobilise stakeholders for clean industrialisation.
