Germany has announced new development obligations to the tune of more than EUR 1.2 billion (approx. Rs. 10,025 crore) to support India's fight against climate change and for cooperation on clean energy.
This announcement was made during the visit of a delegation from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
"New commitments made in bilateral government negotiations 2021. More than EUR 1.2 billion (EUR 713 million for energy, EUR 409 million for urban development, EUR 90 million for agroecology and natural resources)," govt sources from Germany stated.
In a press briefing, German Ambassador to India Walter Lindner said, "Without Indians, you cannot solve any big world problems, and one of the biggest is climate change. We try to work together with India and help with climate change, renewable energy, and similar projects, which also helps in working towards our own goals we promised at COP26 in Glasgow."
"While we try to support India, we fulfill our own goals promised in Glasgow. Here, we assist India in a range of projects across the country that is huge in dimension. I travel a lot through this country and everywhere I find different projects that the two countries are working together and learning from each other," the ambassador added.
Professor Dr Claudia Warning, Director General from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development stated, "India is the biggest development cooperation partner for Germany. This cooperation of 63 years is based on a strong foundation of shared values and vision. Both countries have borne the brunt of climate change."
"Germany wants to reinforce this partnership even further and hence it remains committed to its friendship with the people of India," Dr Warning added.
The Indo-German collaboration is resting on four key megatrends i.e. climate change, urbanization, degradation of natural resources, pressure on democracy and society.
Interestingly, India and Germany account together for nearly 9 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG), a strict policy of climate neutrality only way forward.
Germany raised its climate ambition, targeting to reach climate neutrality by 2045 and emissions reductions in the energy and industry sectors by 77 and 58 percent compared to 1990. As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP 26, India targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
At COP26, India and Germany agree to phase down unabated coal power. In a substantial addition, India has already identified 50 gigawatts (GW) of coal plants for retirement by 2027.