Context
- Recently, India and Germany held the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum (IGEF) in New Delhi, co-chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India and German Federal Minister for Environment.
- The forum, co-chaired by India and Germany’s environment ministers, focuses on Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, covering climate resilience, biodiversity, wetlands, resource efficiency and the circular economy.
Key Outcomes of the Forum
- Bilateral Meeting: Both the counterpart dignitaries held a bilateral meeting reaffirming commitment to environment sustainability and climate action, alongside 75 years of India-Germany diplomatic relations being marked this year.
- Wetlands Declaration: India and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands of International Importance, to strengthen scientific understanding, share good practices in wetland management, develop restoration approaches and enhance community participation.
- India’s solar and wind expansion was termed a role model, with India–Germany cooperation in renewable energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, energy efficiency and sustainable manufacturing; circular economy could generate USD 2 trillion+ and nearly 10 million jobs by 2050, supported by the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition.
About the Indo-German Environment Forum (IGEF)
- IGEF is the highest-level bilateral forum between India and Germany on environmental policy, held since 2008.
- Theme: The 4th IGEF, themed Together for More Resilience
- Jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), in association with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
- There are three Joint Working Groups — on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Circular Economy — met ahead of the Forum to review progress and areas of mutual interest.
Conclusion
The 4th Indo-German Environment Forum, held in New Delhi under the theme Together For More Resilience, saw India and Germany sign a Joint Declaration of Intent on wetlands conservation and reaffirm cooperation on climate-resilient, resource-efficient development, with India’s circular economy projected to reach a market value of over USD 2 trillion and create close to 10 million jobs by 2050.
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