India, Germany agree on several steps to tackle climate change

Emphasising on the importance of tackling the issue of climate change, India and Germany on Monday stated that both countries share the long-term target of holding the increase in global average temperature below two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

The Indo-German joint statement on climate change and energy technology cooperation outlined a series of steps that both countries have agreed on to curb the emission levels.

It stated that India and Germany recognise that renewable energy and the efficient use of energy are most effective approaches to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

"Germany welcomes India's intention to transform its energy sector by increasing the share of renewable energy, in particular solar energy, in electricity generation consistent with its goal of 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022. It also welcomes India's aim to consistently increase efficiency gains in the use of electricity by 2030," the joint statement said.

India also appreciated Germany's ambitious mitigation efforts, including its goal to have at least 80% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2050 compared to 27% today.

The statement further said that India and Germany will continue to intensify their cooperation in developing climate-friendly and sustainable solutions for India's expanding energy needs.

"The implementation of the Green Energy Corridors Partnership with an overall German commitment of 1.15 billion Euros in the last two years is progressing well. Both countries welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding on an Indo-German Solar Energy Partnership based on concessional loans in the range of 1 billion Euros over the next five years," the joint statement said.

"Both countries expressed their satisfaction with the successful work of the Indo-German Energy Forum (EGEF) as the central dialogue forum for the Indo-German Energy agenda," it added.

India and Germany expressed their readiness to work together and with other countries to reach an ambitious and universal climate agreement under the Convention.

They reaffirmed that the protocol, another legal instrument or agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties shall address in a balanced manner, inter alia, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building, and transparency of action and support.