Hyderabad: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav addressed the High-Level Ministerial Leadership Session of the ISA SIDS Platform during UNFCCC CoP30 in Belém, Brazil. Held on 19 November 2025, the event gathered Ministers and senior representatives from Small Island Developing States, ISA member nations, and partner organisations under the theme “Uniting Islands, Inspiring Action – Leadership for Energy Security.”
The session underlined the specific vulnerabilities of SIDS, including high dependence on imported fossil fuels, fragile infrastructure, and climate-driven challenges. To respond to these pressures, the ISA SIDS Platform aims to build a supportive digital and financial ecosystem that accelerates solar deployment. Its approach includes standardised procurement, blended finance, streamlined access to solar technologies, and capacity-building programmes that strengthen local expertise.
In his address, Shri Yadav reaffirmed India’s commitment to clean energy cooperation. He highlighted that India has crossed 500 gigawatts of installed electricity capacity, with more than half generated from clean sources. He added that India achieved 50 percent non-fossil capacity five years ahead of its target under the Nationally Determined Contributions.
Yadav noted that India is the fourth-largest renewable energy producer in the world and ranks third in solar power generation.
He credited this growth to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s focus on scale, speed, and participation from citizens. To illustrate this, he shared a story from the PM Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Programme, describing how a school teacher shifted from fearing monthly bills to welcoming sunshine as a source of income.
The Minister emphasised that more than 20 lakh families across the country have adopted rooftop solar systems. He described these installations as a form of household freedom and a “mini power plant on every roof.” Speaking on agriculture, he said that solar pumps and solarised feeders now support farmers with dependable daytime clean energy. This shift reduces diesel use and brings stability to agricultural operations.
He also highlighted the electrification of remote and forested areas through the PM JANMAN scheme and detailed India’s major push in energy storage. Projects such as the large integrated solar-and-battery system in Ladakh, he noted, will provide enough energy to power an entire city. He added that similar models could help SIDS reduce diesel imports, lower operational costs, and strengthen climate resilience.
India Expands Support Measures to Strengthen ISA SIDS Partnerships
Representatives from SIDS praised India’s progress in renewable energy and voiced support for the ISA SIDS Platform. They stressed that building resilient systems is both a climate and socio-economic priority. Participants expressed confidence that the platform’s focus on feasibility studies, skilled workforce development, and climate finance de-risking will help unlock solar potential across island communities.
Shri Yadav closed with a call for shared global action, stating that solar energy represents hope, empowerment, dignity, and peace.
