India, Denmark to bolster green energy partnership

The decision was made at a virtual summit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday.

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Frederiksen held an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, discussed the Covid-19 pandemic and global matters of interest to both sides, including climate change and green transition and reached common understanding with a view to accelerating sustainable economies and societies.

They noted with satisfaction the continued development of bilateral relations based on historical links, common democratic traditions and shared desire for regional, as well as international peace and stability.

Given the shared desire to remain trusted partners, the two Prime Ministers agreed to elevate ties between India and Denmark which envisaged cooperation within the political, economic and commercial fields besides science and technology; environment, energy; education and culture. 

The green energy partnership builds on and complements the existing Joint Working Groups on Renewable Energy, Urban Development, Environment, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Food Processing, Science, Technology and Innovation, Shipping, Labour Mobility and Digitisation.

The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities; with focus on an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, according to a joint statement issued after the summit.

“The Strategic Sector Cooperation on offshore wind and renewable energy, as well as the India-Denmark Energy Partnership (INDEP) on capacity building, knowledge-sharing and technology transfer on wind energy; energy modelling and integration of renewable energy illustrate the shared commitment to address some of the common global challenges on the path towards global energy transition, green growth and sustainable development. The two sides envisage the energy partnership to be further strengthened over the coming years," the joint statement adds.

India and Denmark have set very ambitious national targets on climate and energy that will contribute to an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two countries agreed to hold regular consultations and dialogue on climate change and renewable energy at various levels.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen existing city-to-city cooperation between Udaipur and Aarhus and Tumakuru and Aalborg.

Danish companies are already contributing to designing infrastructure projects in India and Modi has sought greater engagement of Danish side in all fields of sustainable urban development.