Commending the Council for International Economic Understanding for developing the Forum as a national platform for serious reflection and purposeful action, the Vice-President said India’s engagement with climate and sustainability issues is deeply rooted in its civilisational ethos.

He said that long before sustainability emerged as a contemporary concern, Indian thought emphasised harmony between human activity and nature, reflected in traditional water conservation systems, sustainable agricultural practices, biodiversity preservation and ethical principles such as Prakriti and Aparigraha.

Highlighting India’s development journey over the past decade, the Vice-President said the country has consistently sought balance between growth and equity, and present needs and future responsibility.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has fundamentally redefined how a developing nation approaches climate responsibility, he added.

Referring to India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP-26, 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 responsibility towards future generations.

Stressing the importance of clean-technology manufacturing, the Vice-President said a developed India cannot be built on imported technologies or fragile supply chains alone. It must rest on homegrown clean technologies, resilient manufacturing and a future-ready workforce.