Bengaluru: Union Power Minister RK Singh has called upon the G20 member countries to join together in countering the challenges posed by global warming and climate change.

Delivering the keynote address at the first Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) Meeting here on Sunday, the minister said India now stands committed to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45 percent by 2030 from 2005 level.

He said India also aims to achieve close to 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Noting that India has been ranked amongst the top five performing countries in the Climate Change Performance Index, Singh said the country's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are far below the world average of 6.3 tCO2e in 2020.

Various energy saving schemes of the government have led to 267.9 Million Tonnes of CO2 reduction per year, resulting in an estimated cost savings of $ 18.5 Billion, he added.

Later addressing mediapersons, Singh said India will not compromise with the present availability of energy base and will explore all feasible sources to achieve energy security.

The ETWG Meeting will serve as a preparatory forum to draft a roadmap for this, he said.

In his special address, Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi underlined the need for international collaboration to achieve universal access to clean energy.

"Indians believe in nature-friendly lifestyle and practices rather than its exploitation. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are the concepts of our life; and Circular economy is an integral part of our culture and lifestyle," he said.

Joshi recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement at the COP26 in Glasgow on Mission LiFE - Lifestyle For Environment - as a mass movement for "Mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption" to protect and preserve the environment.

More than 150 participants including G20 countries and nine special invitee guest countries are participating in the three-day event along with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and many other international organisations.

On the sidelines, a high-level international seminar on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)’ was organized. The seminar focussed on highlighting the importance of carbon capture, utilization, and storage, considered vital for achieving net-zero targets.

(With UNI inputs)