India announced the launch of a global biofuel alliance at the G20 summit.

“India invites all of you to join this initiative,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The alliance, with the US and Brazil as its founding members, would help accelerate global efforts to meet net zero emissions targets by facilitating trade in biofuels derived from sources, including plant and animal waste.

The push for a biofuels alliance mirrors the International Solar Alliance launched by New Delhi and Paris in 2015 to bring solar energy within the reach of all.

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, imports about 85 per cent of its crude needs and is gradually building capacity to increase its output of biofuels.

The country plans to build 12 bio-refineries to produce fuel from items, including crop stubble, plant waste and municipal solid waste.

India is targeting to become carbon neutral by 2070 and is expanding use of biofuel in its transport sector.

It has advanced the deadline by 5 years to 2025 for doubling nationwide ethanol blending in gasoline to 20 per cent.