India only G20 nation to achieve climate targets under Paris Agreement ahead of schedule: PM

India is the only country among G20 nations to have achieved its climate targets under the 2015 Paris Agreement ahead of schedule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 78th Independence Day, he said India's efforts to tackle the global issue of climate change have "reassured and surprised" the world.

"I want to tell the world about the strength of my country's people. My country and its people have accomplished what other G20 nations have not.

"We have met the climate targets set under the Paris Agreement ahead of schedule. India is the only nation among the G20 countries to do so, and we are proud of it," the prime minister said.

As part of its national climate plan, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, India has committed to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity installed capacity by 2030.

The prime minister expressed his confidence that India will meet this target.

"This is important for humanity and will serve as a guarantee of a bright future for our children," he said.

At present, the country has a power generation capacity of 446 gigawatts (GW), including around 195 GW from non-fossil energy sources.