India will set Climate Change conference agenda: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has slammed developed nations for questioning India over global warming despite it having the lowest per capita emission of gases and asserted that India will set the agenda for the Climate Change conference to be held in France in September.

"I am surprised that the world is scolding us even though our per capita gas emission is the lowest...," he said while addressing a reception for the Indian community here last night.

Underlining that preservation of nature was in the customs and tradition of Indians which they have done for ages, Modi said, "The whole world is posing questions to us. Those who have destroyed climate are asking questions to us. If anybody has served the nature, it is Indians."

He asserted that India is "not answerable to the world" and will tell them that "you destroyed nature".

Underlining that India should lead the way to deal with climate change, the Prime Minister said, "India will set the agenda for the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP)" meeting to be held in Paris in September.

Referring to India's traditional practices and traditions, Modi said it is the only country which has served the nature the most as Indians even treat even river as mother and worship trees.

"Treating the nature well comes naturally for Indians and they (developed nations) are teaching us," he said.

The Prime Minster said the solutions to the "crisis" on account of global warming are in India's traditions and customs.

"We should go out with confidence," he said, asking the Indian diaspora to contribute in this regard.

At the same time, he said India also wants solutions to the global problem of climate change. In this regard, he spoke about his government's initiatives to tap clean and renewable energy for generating 175 Gigawatts of electricity from it. One Gigawatt is equal to 1,000 MW.

"Earlier, we did not go beyond Megawatts but in 10 months, we have at least started thinking of Gigawatts," he said.

Modi, who is on a three-day visit to Germany, said this country has expertise in solar energy and its partnership with India in tapping solar energy will be helpful in reducing the cost of such form of electricity.

Modi said that if the problem of climate change is not addressed now, it will hurt generations to come.