Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development

In News 

• Recently, India and Germany  decided to launch an Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development.

Major Highlights of Partnership 

• Development assistance:
  • Under this, Germany has committed to providing additional development assistance of €10 billion till 2030 to support India’s green growth plans. 
    • This assistance will be provided to India under the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Green and Sustainable Development Partnership signed between both nations recently.
• Guided by the commitments under the Paris Agreement and the SDGs:
  • The partnership is guided by the commitments of India and Germany under the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, including pursuing efforts to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 
• Both sides agreed to:

• Develop an Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap based on the inputs by the Indo-German Green Hydrogen Task Force supported by the Indo-German Energy Forum (IGEF).
• Establish an Indo-German Renewable Energy Partnership focusing on innovative solar energy and other renewables
• Establish a lighthouse cooperation on “Agroecology and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources” to benefit the rural population and small-scale farmers in India in terms of income, food security, climate resilience, improved soil, biodiversity, forest restoration and water availability and to promote Indian experience globally.
• Further examine collaboration on Green Energy Corridors, e.g. the Leh-Haryana transmission line and the project of a carbon-neutral Ladakh.
• Deepen cooperation in restoring forest landscapes under the Bonn Challenge as an important measure to fight poverty, preserve and restore biodiversity 
•  Deepen cooperation on the creation of suitable conditions for the successful and sustainable use of green technologies, including in the area of reduction of air pollution.
• Work together on Triangular Cooperation, based on individual strengths and experiences in development cooperation and offer sustainable, viable and inclusive projects in third countries to support the achievement of SDGs and climate targets.
  • The Indo-German Energy Forum was launched in 2006 and is a flagship cooperation program initiated under this partnership.

Significance of Partnership in Present Scenario 

• Germany has made key strategic choices in the Russia-Ukraine war. 
  • It has promised to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, and decided to increase defence spending.
  • With India too dependent on Russia for defence supplies, it will be important for New Delhi and Berlin to exchange notes on strategic choices  and moving away from Russia for their respective needs.
• The financial and technical cooperation and other assistance to India by Germany will support in achieving the goals related to climate action and sustainable development space, further promoting German-Indian research and development (R&D), and encouraging private investment. 
• It aims to intensify bilateral, triangular, and multilateral cooperation and accelerate actions towards climate protection. 

India-Germany Bilateral Relations 

• Bilateral relations:
  • Germany is one of India’s most important partners in Europe owing to the  strength of bilateral relations, as also Germany’s key role in the EU.
  • India was  among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of  Germany after the Second World War. 
  • On March 7, 2021, India and Germany marked the 70th anniversary of the  establishment of diplomatic relations. 
• ‘Strategic Partnership’: 
  • India and Germany have had a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, which  has been further strengthened with the launch of Inter-Governmental  Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of Heads of Government .
    • It allows for  a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of fresh areas of  engagement. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has  such a dialogue mechanism. 
  • India and Germany have a shared interest in upholding democratic values, a rules-based international order, and reform of multilateral institutions. These issues are expected to figure in the discussions, especially in the context of China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

• Institutional Cooperation Arrangements: 
  • Several institutionalised arrangements exist between India and Germany to  discuss bilateral and global issues of interest, namely, Foreign Office  Consultations, High Defence Committee, Indo-German Energy Forum, IndoGerman Environment Forum, S&T Committee, and Joint Working Groups in  various fields, including skill development, automotive, agriculture, tourism,  water and waste management.
  • Both countries consult each other and coordinate positions in multilateral  fora including G-20 and in the UN on global issues such as climate change and  sustainable development. 
    • There have been consultations between the two  countries on various subjects such as UN issues, international cyber issues,  disarmament and non-proliferation, export control, Asia and Africa.

• Multilateral Cooperation:
  • Germany and India support each other on UNSC expansion within the  framework of the G-4. 
  •  Germany joined  the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in February 2020 and  participated in the first Governing Council meeting in March 2020.
  • In April 2021, the German Federal Cabinet approved the signing of the  amended framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and  thereby Germany’s accession to the ISA. 

• Security Cooperation: 
  • The MoU on Security Cooperation signed at the 3rd IGC held in Delhi in  2015 defines collaboration in this field. 

• Defence Cooperation: 
  • Bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in September 2006 and  the Agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information signed in October  2007, provide the framework for bilateral defence ties. 

• Economic & Commercial Relations: 
  • Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe. It has consistently  been among India’s top ten global partners and was the seventh-largest trading  partner in FY 2020-21 (12th during FY 2021-22 up to December 2021). 
  • Bilateral trade in 2020-21 was USD 21.76 billion registering a marginal  decline of about 1% over FY 2019-20. 
  • Indian exports during this period decreased  by 2% reaching USD 8.12 billion and Indian imports decreased by 0.35% to USD  13.64 billion.
  • Indian exports with USD 7.02 billion during this period witnessed an increase of  about 24.65% and Indian imports with USD 10.58 billion registered an increase  of 5.96%

• Science & Technology: 
  • Bilateral Science and Technology cooperation is implemented under an  Inter-Governmental Agreement on ‘Cooperation in Scientific Research and  Technological Development’ signed in May 1974.
  • The Department of Science and  Technology (DST) and the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research  (BMBF) are the nodal agencies for overall coordination. An apex Indo-German  Committee on S&T, established in 1994 coordinates the implementation of  cooperation and joint review of activities. 

• Culture: 
  • The Indo-German cultural relations have a long tradition that was derived  through the systematic and academic study of Indian literature, especially Vedas  and Upanishads, and also translation of famous works from Sanskrit to German  language. 
  • Most importantly, the translation of Kalidasa’s ‘Shakuntala’ in 1791  envisaged institution-based scientific research on sacred Indian texts for the  quest of Indian philosophy and literature. 
  • Max Mueller was the first scholar of  Indo-European languages to translate and publish Upanishads and Rigveda. 

• Indian Diaspora: 
  • There are around 2.03 lakh (December 2021) Indian passport holders and  Indian-origin people (about 1.60 lakh NRIs/Indian Passport holders and around  43,000 PIOs) in Germany. 

Source:IE