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India’s clean energy surge rewriting global playbook – Simon Stiell in Delhi – EnviroNews
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UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, hailed India’s rapid clean‑energy expansion as “game‑changing for its economy and its people,” urging the country to seize its growing advantages in the global shift toward renewables and clean technologies.
Speaking at an in‑person press conference in New Delhi, Stiell said he was “delighted to be back in India” after two days of high‑level meetings with ministers and business leaders. A single theme, he noted, ran through every conversation: climate action is now a core driver of India’s economic transformation.
“Sachin Tendulkar and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi… rolled into one”
Drawing on his Caribbean roots – “a fellow cricket‑loving region,” he joked – Stiell compared India’s clean‑energy momentum to “Sachin Tendulkar and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rolled into one: a stellar record, but the story is just getting started.”
He said India’s clean‑energy achievements were not only impressive but strategically pivotal for the nation’s future. “If India keeps doubling down on renewables and clean tech, the next chapters promise to be truly extraordinary.”
India Hits Major Milestones Ahead of Schedule
Stiell praised India’s decarbonisation strategy as “forging a new path for others to follow,” highlighting several breakthroughs:
- Fossil‑fuel‑free power now makes up half of India’s installed capacity – a milestone reached five years early.
- Solar capacity has grown more than 50‑fold since 2014, making India a “solar superpower.”
- Solar manufacturing capacity has increased 75 times over the same period.
- India saved US$18 billion in fossil‑fuel imports last year alone, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
- New IRENA data shows India is the most competitive solar market in the world on generation cost.
He credited the Modi administration, along with India’s businesses and citizens, for driving these gains.
EV Boom and Clean Tech Leadership
India’s electric‑vehicle market is accelerating, Stiell noted, led by national champions such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and JSW MG Motor India. He said India’s clean‑tech ecosystem – from electro‑tech to green steel – positions the country to become a global manufacturing hub.
“In the global clean‑energy race, India has powerful competitive advantages – particularly your tech‑savvy workforce,” he said.
Global Energy Transition Now “Irreversible”
Stiell underscored that the world has reached a historic turning point. At COP30, all nations declared the global energy transition irreversible, with over US$2 trillion invested in clean energy last year.
He warned, however, that conflict‑driven fossil‑fuel price shocks continue to destabilise economies worldwide – especially nations like India, which imports 90% of its crude oil.
“Every solar panel installed moves India closer to energy independence and even greater economic strength,” he said.
Climate Impacts Intensifying Across Asia
Stiell highlighted the human toll of global heating:
- Devastating heatwaves across Asia
- Weak monsoon rains
- El Niño‑driven crop threats
- Rising household costs
“The faster and stronger your climate action, the more lives and livelihoods will be protected,” he said.
Health, Productivity, and Economic Gains
Accelerating clean‑energy adoption and reducing coal dependence, Stiell argued, will deliver cleaner air, lower healthcare costs, and higher productivity.
“As Minister Pralhad Joshi has said, renewables mean lower bills and greater energy security – which can enhance food security and health.”
UN Support and New Climate Finance Pathways
Stiell outlined how UN‑convened climate cooperation can help India:
- The UN carbon market is now operational, offering new funding streams for developing economies.
- The Global Climate Action Agenda is being elevated to turn climate targets into real‑world results.
- COP31’s Action Agenda includes raising electricity’s share of final energy demand to 35% by 2035 – a target he said India is well‑placed to advance, given its progress on electricity access, clean cooking, and EV policies like Delhi’s new EV roadmap.
He stressed that developed countries must triple adaptation finance, delivering US$300 billion annually by 2035, on a pathway to US$1.3 trillion per year.
“India Can Achieve Full Energy Independence”
Stiell closed with a powerful message: India’s clean‑energy surge is not only an environmental imperative but a historic economic opportunity.
“Almost 80 years since India won its independence, this nation has the chance to achieve full energy independence, and lock in a next generation of economic might.”
He urged India to continue its strong engagement in climate multilateralism, calling the country “a vital partner” in accelerating the global shift to clean, resilient economies
