"It is not just question of historical responsibility... We hope advanced nations will assume ambitious targets and pursue them as they have the most room for impact," PM Modi said in his address at the summit.

"Democratic India must grow rapidly to meet the aspirations of 1.25 billion people, 300 million of whom are without access to energy," PM Modi said. "The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities must remain the bedrock of our collective enterprise."

"This is an alliance that brings together developed and developing countries, government, industries, laboratories on a common platform," the Prime Minister said. "This is the sunrise for new hope, not just for clean energy but for those still in darkness."

PM Modi also joined the leaders of 19 other countries including the US and China for "Mission Innovation", under which, the governments are committed to double public investment in basic energy research over the next five years.

"We have to ensure in spirit of climate justice that the lives of a few do not cloud opportunities for those on initial steps of development ladder," PM Modi said at the inauguration.

28 of the world's wealthiest investors like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg of the US, Jack Ma of China and India's Mukesh Ambani joined the energy coalition to pool money for the initiative.

Earlier, addressing a gathering at the opening of the India pavilion he said, "Climate change is a major global challenge but it is not of our making... we in India face consequence. We see the risk to our farmers... rising oceans that threaten our 7,500 km of coastline and 1300 islands... the glaciers that feed our rivers..."

India, he said, wants to make conventional energy like coal cleaner. But there are also plans to convert "40% of our installed capacity to non-fossil fuels," he said.

PM Modi had a bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the summit. He also shook hands and talked with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for a few minutes, as the summit started.