Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan said that climate action should be viewed not as a limitation on development but as a strategic opportunity to accelerate inclusive growth, strengthen energy security and build a future-ready economy. He was delivering the inaugural address on Friday at the Bharat Climate Forum 2026 in New Delhi.
Commending the Council for International Economic Understanding for shaping the Forum into a national platform for serious reflection and purposeful action, the Vice-President said India’s engagement with climate and sustainability is deeply rooted in its civilisational ethos. Long before sustainability became a contemporary concern, Indian traditions emphasised harmony between humans and nature through practices such as water conservation, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity protection and ethical principles like Prakriti and Aparigraha, he noted.
Highlighting India’s development trajectory over the past decade, V-P Radhakrishnan said the country has consistently sought a balance between growth and equity, and between present needs and future responsibility. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, India has redefined how a developing nation approaches climate responsibility.
Referring to India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP26, the Vice-President said these goals chart a clear pathway towards a low-carbon future, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, while reaffirming India’s development priorities and its responsibility towards future generations.
Emphasising the importance of clean-technology manufacturing, he said a developed India cannot be built on imported technologies or fragile supply chains alone. “Our growth must be powered by homegrown clean technologies, resilient manufacturing and a future-ready workforce,” he said, noting that India is increasingly emerging as a global maker in renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, electric mobility, sustainable materials, climate-smart agriculture and digital climate solutions.
V-P Radhakrishnan observed that Indian companies are making significant investments in solar modules, battery manufacturing, electric vehicle components, electrolyzers and green fuels, while start-ups are driving innovation in climate data, energy efficiency and waste management – transforming Make in India into Make in India for the world.
On global cooperation, the Vice-President said climate change is a shared challenge that requires collective action. India’s approach to partnerships, he stressed, is based on collaboration without dependence. As a founding force behind the International Solar Alliance, India has mobilised countries of the Global South around affordable and scalable solar solutions. Its leadership of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, he added, reflects a forward-looking effort to strengthen infrastructure against climate-induced shocks and safeguard development gains.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Chairman of the Bharat Climate Forum and former Rajya Sabha MP N. K. Singh; Convenor and former Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi; Co-Chair Sumant Sinha; and President of the Forum Dr. Ashwani Mahajan, along with policymakers, industry leaders, experts, academics and stakeholders from India and abroad.
