Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for reform of the UN Security Council, saying it was essential for the world body to inspire confidence and be relevant in the current world realities. “Seventy years back, when the horrific World War II came to an end, this organisation came into being, raising hopes of people around the world. We have gathered here to decide a new direction,“ he said addressing the UN General Assembly session.
Talking about the global challenges and problems, Modi said, “We need UN reforms so that it inspires confidence and becomes relevant to the current world realities.” His pitch for UNSC reforms comes amidst India's strong bid for a permanent seat in the expanded powerful world body.
Modi asserted that the global challenges like climate change and sustainable development are the collective responsibility of all nations as no nation can be immune to any kind of threat. The Indian Prime Minister talked about the need for eradicating poverty and ensuring development as he highlighted that 1.3 billion people around the world are forced to live in poverty.
On the issue of climate change, he maintained that common but differentiated responsibility is the basis for dealing with this challenge. In this context, he asked the developed nations to fulfil their responsibility of sharing technology, innovation and finances with the developing countries without having any “selfish interest.”
At the UN Sustainable Development Summit, Modi said he represents a culture that refers to the earth as “mother” and that India in the next seven years will create 175 GW of renewable energy capacity. “I represent that culture that calls the earth `Ma'. The Vedas says that the earth is the mother and we are its sons,” he said in his address, made in Hindi.
He said India has outlined ambitious programmes to fight climate change. Besides creating 175 GW renewable energy capacity, the country would also stress on energy efficiency, tree plantation, coal tax, clean environment, cleaning up of rivers, waste to wealth movement and sustainable development.
