Tech tycoon-turned-philanthropist Bill Gates spoke on India’s role in the renewable energy sector and its growing role as a hub for innovation in an interview with Indian Express Group’s Executive Director Anant Goenka at the Express Adda in Mumbai on Thursday.
To Goenka’s question whether it surprises him that developing countries are doing much better with regard to fulfilling promises to tackle climate change, Gates noted that not many countries have committed to the cause of combating global warming. He said that in recent times the goals of providing more energy and reducing emissions have come into conflict with each other.
When Goenka said that India seems to be on well on track in meeting its goal of providing 50 per cent of energy through renewable sources by 2030, Gates argued that the overall carbon emissions from India are expected to go up to meet developmental needs. However, Gates said that the renewable energy sector is in a favourable position with India making strides in this sector.
He also said that with China leading the world in renewable energy, “India must be very close to number 2,” adding that India now has the blue print for cheap solar panels and batteries could be followed or competed with.
With the demand for energy growing due to the rise in the AI sector and growing aspirations of the Global South, the world faces a handful of set-backs.
Gates said that the ongoing tensions between China and the US have created hurdles in trade – effectively preventing the giants from accessing each other’s goods and facilitating competition in renewable energy and electric vehicle sector.
Highlighting the US’ diminishing role in achieving developmental goals by cutting down aid, Goenka asked whether Gates sees India fulfilling that role.
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Although Gates said that sufficient financial assistance to developing is something he could expect from India in the next 15 years, he underscored the potential of the countries digital public infrastructure, which has given dividends to various sectors.
“The best example in India’s role in helping other countries is the digital public infrastructure,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal thing, whether you look at banking or government benefits being transferred.” He said that it has provided the foundation for the start-ups ecosystem to thrive.
He was optimistic about India becoming a significant hub for innovation. “In diagnostics, pioneering use of AI, advanced agriculture, bio fertilisers, better seeds, animal vaccines, animal genetics, we see that India is going to be a significant source for innovation that helps all these problems domestically.”
“I am pleased that this concept of more and more innovation coming from India is no exaggeration; it’s going faster than I even expected,” he added.
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