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Gujarat pushes for solar and electric vehicles to address challenges of climate change

Gujarat alone accounts for 25% of the country’s total solar rooftops. 1.11 lakh households are covered. Gujarat has also reduced 17 million tonnes of carbon emissions and saved 12.3 million tonnes of coal.
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Vijay Rupani
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New Delhi: On the World Environment Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched Gujarat’s important initiative ‘State Action Plan on Climate Change’, giving Gujarat the pride of being a leading state in this field.

The Chief Minister released State Action Plan on Climate Change prepared by the State Climate Change Department in collaboration with experts from IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Gandhinagar and a report on the impact of Covid-19 on various sectors of the state.

Gujarat State Action Plan on Climate Change includes climate change adaptation, planning and measures for mitigation in the state till 2030.

Releasing this report and State Action Plan, Chief Minister Mr. Vijay Rupani made it clear that Gujarat would be the first state in the country to implement a long-term action plan to address the challenges of climate change.

He said that we have carried out sustainable development by carrying forward the commitment shown by the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi on environment and climate change.

Rupani said that Gujarat is the region of diversity in terms of 1600km long coastline, forests, mountains, deserts. Due to climate change, we have been facing natural storms, heatwaves, heavy rains, etc.

The Chief Minister added that Gujarat has given special emphasis on the use of solar and wind energy, electric vehicles in order to protect the environment.

He said that for the green-clean environment in Gujarat, 9,000 MW of wind and 5,000 MW of solar energy is generated and new thermal power plants in the state are not approved now.

He added that Gujarat will be a leader in this field in the coming days by producing 30 gigawatts of solar and wind energy.

The Chief Minister said that Gujarat has taken initiatives in the fields of climate change and renewable energy. Measures of water purification have been adopted through water conservation, recycling of water and reuse of treated water.

CNG as well as electric vehicles are promoted for pollution free transportation facilities in the state. By setting up 900 CNG filling stations, more and more people are encouraged to use CNG vehicles in order to reduce pollution. There is also a policy for the use of electric vehicles.

Mr. Rupani also said that we have focused on countering the challenges of climate change in many areas like energy saving, water conservation, forestry and disaster management.

Gujarat has taken the initiatives to raise awareness through solar rooftop policy, battery powered vehicles, energy audit and climate change.

25% of the country’s total solar rooftops in Gujarat

Gujarat alone accounts for 25% of the country’s total solar rooftops. 1.11 lakh households are covered. Not only that, Gujarat has reduced 17 million tonnes of carbon emissions and saved 12.3 million tonnes of coal by adopting such solar-wind sources in the energy sector, he added.

CM said that as per the targets set by the Government of India for climate change, this new State Action Plan of Gujarat has been prepared keeping in view the period of next 10 years i.e., till 2030.

The action plan covers various aspects like renewable energy, energy saving, water conservation, forestry, coastal areas, tribal areas, animal husbandry, agriculture, health, he added.

The Chief Minister appreciated the cooperation and support of the experts from IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Gandhinagar in preparing this State Action Plan.

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