India calls for united global action on energy security for SIDS at COP30

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday underlined India’s commitment to support Small Island Developing States in advancing clean energy pathways and called for shared global action on energy security at the COP30 Summit in Belem, Brazil.

He was addressing the high-level ministerial leadership session of the International Solar Alliance SIDS Platform on the side lines of COP 30 at Belém.

Union Minister highlighted achievements in renewable energy, said that India has crossed 500 gigawatts of installed electricity capacity and more than half of it is clean energy.

India has reached 50% non-fossil energy capacity, five years ahead of its NDC target,” he added.

The event, organized under the theme ‘Uniting Islands, Inspiring Action – Leadership for Energy Security’, brought together ministers and senior representatives from SIDS, member nations of the ISA and partner organizations to advance collective actions for energy security, affordability, and resilience.

The event emphasized that SIDS face unique vulnerabilities high dependence on imported fossil fuels, climate-induced disruptions, and fragile infrastructure.

Yadav said India was now the 4th largest renewable energy producer and 3rd in solar power globally. Reaffirming India’s commitment, Yadav said, “ISA has emerged as a Global Solar Family. More than 124 countries are now part of the International Solar Alliance. Think of ISA as a global solar family — from the islands of the Pacific to the savannas of Africa to the mountains of South America.”

The ISA is accelerating solar project design, mobilizing finance, generating local jobs, and making solar energy the first choice for clean, reliable electricity, he added.

The representatives of the small island nations and other participants lauded India’s rapid strides in renewable energy, especially the solar energy sector and supported the SIDS platform in unlocking renewable energy potential for them.

The ISA SIDS Platform aims to create a transformative digital and financial ecosystem to accelerate solar deployment through standardized procurement, blended finance, local capacity building, and streamlined access to solar technologies.