India and Germany announce cooperation on climate, hydrogen and forests

Germany and India have signed a declaration of intent on a "Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development" which will include German support for reforestation in India and cooperation on green hydrogen. During a visit by the Indian government to Berlin, Germany promised the country some 10 billion euros in additional funding for climate action and sustainability.

“Within the framework of our energy partnership with India, we have agreed to cooperate in greater depth on the development of innovative solutions for sustainable green hydrogen production. This is an important milestone in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” said federal economy and climate ministry Robert Habeck. India has favourable conditions for the generation of renewable electricity and wants to become a major producer of green hydrogen. Electrolysers developed by German companies could facilitate the establishment of a green hydrogen economy in the country, the ministry said in a press release. The cooperation agreement aims to establish a task force within the Indo-German Energy Partnership, the so-called Indo-German Energy Forum.

Germany will support India in the restoration of forests with its International Climate Initiative, environment minister Steffi Lemke announced together with her Indian counterpart Bhupender Yadav. India has set itself the goal of restoring 26 million hectares of forest by 2030 and increasing forest cover to 33 percent from 21 percent.

NGO Germanwatch described the partnership as a “milestone for a new era of climate cooperation”. “Additional financing and cooperation will make it possible to achieve ambitious goals in this decade, which is crucial for climate protection, for example in the expansion of renewable energies,” Germanwatch political director Christoph Bals said.