India per capita emissions below half global average, Modi says, but blame debate misses key points

Prime Minister Modi said India's per capita carbon emissions are less than half the global average and argued that developing nations are wrongly blamed for climate change. He cited India's progress on renewable energy and claimed India is the only G20 country to meet its Paris Agreement commitments ahead of schedule. He also noted that expanding nuclear power could face legal challenges from environmental groups. The speech highlights ongoing debates over historical responsibility and per capita vs. absolute emissions. While India's renewable buildout is real, questions remain about how fast the grid can integrate clean energy and whether the Paris commitment claim is accurate, since India's target was emissions intensity, not absolute cuts. The nuclear litigation remark adds a practical hurdle to energy transition plans.