Climate action is central theme of this year’s Budget: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narender Modi on Saturday said climate action was given more importance in this year’s Union Budget and it reflects India’s commitment towards a “green future”.

Prime Minister Modi said this while addressing the gathering in Hyderabad after unveiling the Statue of Equality and kickstart the 50th-anniversary celebrations of agricultural research organisation ICRISAT.

“The natural calamities and situations created due to climate change have been a major challenge. It affects both humans and infrastructure. Our Govt has started a global institute for such infra and today, we’re inaugurating a similar institute for agriculture as well,” he said.

The prime minister also inaugurated ICRISAT’s Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility.

This year the energy transition and Climate Change was one of the central themes of the Union Budget 2022-23, announced by the Finance Minister on February 2.

Meanwhile, the government has allocated Rs 3,030 crore for the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change which is 5.6 percent more than the last year’s allocation.

Calling climate change one of the highest external risks facing the country, Sitharaman quoted Prime Minister  at COP26 in Glasgow saying that “what is needed is mindful and deliberate utlisation”, and that the government was committed to a strategy of low carbon development.

Touting the government’s sustainability goals, PM Modi said India has set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. He also underlined the importance of adopting the Pro-Planet People movement to combat challenges posed by climate change.

“We have also highlighted the need for life- lifestyle for the environment and also called for a Pro Planet People movement – a movement that is crucial to combat climate change and connects every individual with climate,” he added.

Modi said that today the Climate Change Research Facility on Planet Protection & Rapid Generation Advancement Facility has also been inaugurated and these research facilities will play a key role in aiding agriculture to combat climate change.

Talking about the government’s emphasis on Agriculture in the Budget, Modi said in this budget, unprecedented emphasis has been given on natural farming and digital agriculture. On one hand, we are focusing on expanding the coverage of coarse cereals, emphasizing on chemical-free farming, On the other hand, from solar pumps to drones, farmers are encouraging modern technology.

He added that today, we’re providing nearly 170 districts with drought-proofing solutions pan-India. Our focus is on the fusion of ‘Back to Basics’ and ‘March to Future’ to safeguard our farmers from climate change.

“Our focus is on more than 80 percent of small farmers of the country who need us the most. In this budget also a lot of emphasis has been laid on natural farming and digital agriculture” Modi said.

Speaking over the role of digital technology in the Agriculture sector, Modi said, one important aspect of the changing India is digital agriculture.

“This digital agriculture is our future and in this, the talented youth of India can do great work. Efforts are continuously increasing in India for how we can empower the farmer with digital technology,” he added.