Himachal aims to become India’s first green energy state

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said the state government is firmly committed to making Himachal the country’s first Green Energy State. He made the statement while releasing a report titled Scientific Assessment of Tackling Non-CO2 Emissions: Pathways for Himachal Pradesh in Shimla.

The chief minister said climate change is already showing serious effects in the hill state. He pointed to recent cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and shrinking glaciers as warning signs that require urgent action. Referring to the 2023 disaster, Sukhu noted that more than 23,000 houses were damaged across the state.

Steps toward green goals

To support its environmental push, the state signed two Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) to promote cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants. One agreement was signed with Dabur India Limited, which will supply 12 lakh quality saplings every year to farmers across Himachal.

Different plant species will be distributed based on ecological suitability in low, mid and high hill regions. The move aims to boost farmers’ income while also supporting ecological balance.

A second MoA was signed with Karan Singh Vaidh of Solan for five years. Under this project, six priority medicinal plants such as turmeric, ashwagandha, shatavari and tulsi will be cultivated. In the first phase, at least 225 women farmers will be covered across more than 108 bighas of land.

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Focus on climate risks

Experts highlighted that the new report makes Himachal the first Himalayan state to prepare an emissions inventory focused on non-CO2 pollutants like black carbon, methane and nitrous oxide.

Zerin Osho of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development said the state is highly vulnerable to climate change and must focus on both mitigation and adaptation. The government believes these steps will help Himachal move steadily toward its green energy goal while protecting its fragile mountain ecosystem.