Without Decarbonisation, Delhi Could Hit 50°C: Jayant Sinha Warns
Former minister Jayant Sinha warned that New Delhi's temperatures could reach around 50°C if India does not urgently pursue decarbonisation. He emphasized the need to reduce carbon emissions drastically, align development with climate commitments, and adopt clean energy and green infrastructure. The city's rising pollution and extreme heat highlight the urgency for sustainable growth and net-zero goals by 2070.
Jayant Sinha, former Union Minister of Finance and Civil Aviation, cautioned that New Delhi could experience extreme heat exceeding 50°C in the future unless India takes immediate and decisive decarbonisation action. Speaking at a Transition Accelerator event with BCG and CII, he attributed the city's poor air quality, with AQI over 300, mainly to fossil fuel vehicular emissions and emphasized the drastic change in climate patterns. He underscored that India's development strategy must integrate strong climate action, pushing for net-zero emissions by 2070 to secure clean air, water, and sustainable prosperity. Highlighting the nation's current emission of over 3.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, Sinha called for a national shift to clean energy, electric mobility, and green infrastructure. He linked India’s economic future—targeting a USD30 trillion economy—to sustainable development, asserting that clean growth and climate resilience are crucial for meaningful progress. Additionally, ITA's identification of green industry projects worth over USD150 billion signals opportunities for emissions abatement and job creation. Sinha advocated collective responsibility among industries, policymakers, and citizens to ensure India’s rise is environmentally sustainable and resilient amid global competition.
