I see a lot of people both defending and attacking him. But why?

After spending the 19th & 20th centuries blazing through fossil fuels & degrading the environment during their era of industrialization, the West lost the locus standi to give sermons on protecting the environment. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1319466397097865216

The West is where it's today because of those 200 years of unchecked & unapologetic industrialization. It's our time now & we don't owe anyone an explanation.

Despite having no moral obligation, we're still doing FAR more than any developing nation in terms of achieving our SDGs

We are far ahead of our own targets under the Paris Accord.

Share of non-fossil fuels in power generation:
2030 target: 40%
2020 status: 38%

Reduction in carbon footprint:
2030 target: 33-35%
Est figure: 45%

Bonus: Cheapest solar energy in the world https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/22/green-india-energy-climate/

North Americans & Europeans lecturing Asia & Africa on polluting the environment is a perfect case of the pot calling the kettle black.

As long as it's coming from their quarters, any criticism and pressure should be seen as a tool to deter us from achieving our true potential.