PM Modi takes part in G7 outreach on energy security; calls for clean energy access, AI oversight, G

PM Modi takes part in G7 outreach on energy security; calls for clean energy access, AI oversight, Global South priorities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday participated in the outreach session on energy security at the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where he called for universal access to clean energy, responsible use of artificial intelligence, and greater attention to the needs of the Global South.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted key takeaways from the Prime Minister’s address.

PM Modi emphasized that affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy remains India’s top priority in an increasingly technology-driven world.

“In the last century, we saw competition for energy. In this century, we will have to cooperate for technology. Moving forward on the fundamental principles of availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, India has chosen the path of inclusive development” PM Modi said.

He underscored India’s clean energy initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

PM Modi noted that India has already fulfilled its Paris climate commitments ahead of schedule and is rapidly advancing toward its Net Zero target by 2070.

“Currently, renewable energy accounts for around 50 percent of our total installed capacity,” he added.

PM Modi also reiterated India’s commitment to representing the concerns of the Global South on the world stage.

“Unfortunately, the Global South countries suffer the most from uncertainty and conflicts. They are the first to be hit by crises related to food, fuel, fertilizer, and finance. India considers it its responsibility to bring the priorities and concerns of the Global South to the world stage,” he said.

Highlighting India’s success in democratizing technology through Digital Public Infrastructure, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of meaningful and high-quality data as the foundation for inclusive and responsible AI.

He called for global cooperation to build governance frameworks around artificial intelligence that both encourage innovation and address emerging risks.

“AI itself is an energy-intensive technology. If there is any way to sustainably fulfill the energy requirements of a technology-driven society, it is through renewable energy,” PM Modi said.

Addressing AI risks, PM Modi warned of the growing threat of deepfakes, urging the need for safeguards.

“Deep fake is a cause of great concern. Watermarking or clear declaration should be mandatory for AI-generated content,” he said.

On the issue of terrorism, the Prime Minister strongly condemned the recent Pahalgam terror attack, describing it as an attack on humanity and democratic values.

“There should be no place for double standards on terrorism,” he said, urging the global community to adopt a consistent and firm stance against terror networks.

“For global peace and prosperity, our thought and policy must be clear — if any country supports terrorism, it will have to pay the price for it. On one hand, we are quick to impose all kinds of sanctions based on our own preferences. On the other hand, countries that openly support terrorism are rewarded,” PM Modi added.