UNEP: “India is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its heavy population”

COIMBATORE, Tamil Nadu: In the recent Youth 20 talk on climate action, Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that India is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its heavy population. “You see the effects of climate change everywhere in the world. But of course, India is particularly vulnerable to climate change because it has a heavy population and the kind of nature in India makes it more vulnerable than most other places,” he said.

He further added that the country is facing the same environmental issues as the planet at large. “There is massive pollution, in particular in northern Indian cities like Delhi that are much polluted. India is facing climate change and is more vulnerable to climate change than the United States. America and India have been facing the loss of nature, destruction of forest, wiping out of a number of animals,” he said.

While talking about global disasters he mentioned the disastrous floods in Pakistan and huge wildfires in America and Europe.

Talking about the electrification of vehicles, he highlighted that China has gone for 100 per cent electrification and that the world should opt for electric systems to save the environment. “China is the world leader in electric cars. It’s the world leader in solar and wind energy, and there is no doubt that 25 per cent of one out of every four cars sold in China last year was electric. And nearly all buses in the Chinese cities are now gone electric, which is a major achievement, but others will follow.”

Talking about India’s initiative in introducing public electric buses he added, “There are 27 cities in India now introducing metro systems. So you see massive positive developments in India also and in ten years’ time, I think, every new car sold in India will be electric. And you will have charging stations everywhere.”