New Delhi, July 28 (IANS): India is playing a leading role in discussions ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to strike a new global climate deal, a French official said here on Tuesday.

Laurence Tubiana, the French ambassador for climate change negotiations, appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting renewable energy.

Interacting with media persons here, Tubiana said she was impressed with the leadership of India which will play a pivotal role in reaching a consensus in the Paris summit.

"India is a very important country that is playing and will continue to play an important role in the discussions. We need the leadership of India to reach a consensus," Tubiana said.

Praising India for its determination to reach a global agreement, she said the agreement will help India immensely.

Praising Modi, she said India's decision of ramping up the renewable energy target from 20,000 MW to 100,000 MW by 2022 was impressive and also lauded the prime minister for creating an alliance of solar power rich countries that will give a "big impulse" to the December summit in Paris.

Tubiana along with Nicolas Hulot, special envoy of the French president for the protection of the planet, are on a three-day visit to India and have met various officials of the Indian government, as well as the business community.

They are also going to interact with Indian think tanks and climate change experts and are also expected to meet India's parliamentarians.

In December, over 190 countries would meet in Paris for the COP21 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to strike a new global climate deal.