Time for talk is over, world needs to act now: PM Modi at UN Climate Change Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first engagement at the United Nations was at UN Climate Action Summit during which he called for a global movement to bring about change saying "time for talk is over, the world needs to act now".

"What is needed is a comprehensive approach that covers education, lifestyle, development strategy. We need global people's movement to bring about change," the Indian prime minister told the UN climate change summit.

"We believe that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching," PM Modi asserted.

Talking about India's climate change policies, PM Modi said: "Respect for nature is part of the tradition and need and not greed."

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He highlighted how India is increasing its renewable energy in its overall energy basket and aims to "increase its renewable energy capacity to 175 GW by 2022".

The prime minister called for people's movement to end the usage of "single-use plastic" in India, saying, "this will create awareness at the global level against single-use plastic". PM from his Independence day speech earlier this year had called for ending use of single-use plastics.

"We have started the jal jeevan mission for water conservation, rain water harvesting and for the development of water resources," he said, adding,"India is going to spend $50 million on this."

PM Modi was the third speaker at the climate change summit, after Prime Miniter of New Zealand and President of Marshall Islands.

PM Modi will be inaugurating the Gandhi Solar Park at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday as part of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi celebrations. The park has 193 solar panels, one for each member country of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump made an appearance at the UN Climate Change summit. He entered the room even as Prime Minister Modi was speaking. US President Trump, who is known for not to be keen on climate action policies, had initially planned to skip the event.

PM Modi also spoke at the United Nations health care summit saying the focus has been on preventive health care, affordable health care, strengthening medical infrastructure and Mission Mode Intervention.

The Indian prime minister highlighted how electronic cigarettes have been banned in India and the country's aim to eradicate TB by 2025.  

Modi said New Delhi is helping the international community in health care especially Africa with telemedicine and India's "experience is available for all developing nations".