India-EU Joint Statement Highlights Clean Energy and Sustainability Cooperation

During the 16th India-EU Summit, India and the European Union (EU) released a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to sustainability, clean energy, and decarbonisation. The statement highlights the importance of environmental responsibility and clean-tech initiatives, marking a clear contrast to policies previously taken by other major economies. It sets the foundation for deeper collaboration on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate action, aligning with India’s priorities under the Paris Climate Agreement. The statement specifically commends the India-led International Solar Alliance and outlines cooperation on operationalising the Green Hydrogen task force along with other EU-India green initiatives. It also addresses India’s concern regarding ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities’ (CBDR) under the Paris Climate Agreement, ensuring that collaborative efforts respect equitable climate obligations between developed and developing nations. In addition to environmental objectives, the joint statement underlines the importance of closer economic ties between India and the EU. It emphasizes the role of collaboration in promoting job creation, green transition, industrial development, and resilient, sustainable supply chains. These efforts are aimed at driving growth while simultaneously achieving climate and sustainability goals. The broader framework for these initiatives is detailed in the ‘Towards 2030: India-EU Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda’, which identifies five key pillars, the first of which is prosperity and sustainability. While the statement remains silent on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), it reflects multiple ongoing collaborations on the environmental front and demonstrates a strategic alignment between India and the EU in pursuing global climate commitments.