A draft Indian government plan, obtained by Greenpeace, outlines plans for a national target of 20 Gigawatts of solar generation capacity by 2020. The massive green plan is a clear example of how developing countries are acting on climate change, while in the industrialised world, the EU and the US are still struggling with their reduction targets, and delaying concrete financial support needed by developing countries for clean energy.

Greenpeace is calling on EU finance ministers, meeting next Tuesday in Luxembourg, to recognise the need for financial support of €110 billion annually for green energy investments in developing countries, measures for adapting to climate change and stopping deforestation.

The Indian solar plan would put India in the global forefront in the fight against climate change. The Solar Mission document is a national solar energy plan that makes a significant contribution to a sustainable development strategy for the Indian economy.

"This would be the most ambitious solar plan that any country has laid out so far, but in order for India to take concrete steps to fulfill this solar mission, India needs international support. The industrialised world needs to come up with solid proposals on technology and finance to help developing countries deliver on ambitious plans like this one," said Siddharth Pathak, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace India, from the UN climate talks in Bonn.

On 9 June, the EU's finance ministers will meet in Luxembourg to discuss financial support for green investments in developing countries. To date, the ministers have been reluctant to quantify any specific funding that developing countries need  - and have been promised - for additional investments in clean energy, forest protection and adaptation to climate change.

"EU leaders are happy to agree quick-fix solutions to save failed banks, but do not help countries like India to invest in green measures needed to save the climate," said Joris den Blanken, Climate and Energy Policy Director of Greenpeace European Unit, also at the climate talks.

"Next week they have a fresh chance to put money on the table. That will not only boost new plans like the Indian solar plan, it could also break the current deadlock in the international climate negotiations here in Bonn," he said.

There are hopeful signs. The German Financial Times today reported that EU government experts have advised the finance ministers that at least €100 billion annually is needed for the developing countries.

Last update: 05 June 2009 at 13:12

Keywords : News, India Government, solar generation plan, 20GW, national target, 2020.

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