India and Germany have signed a “Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) for the conservation and wise use of wetlands of international importance”. The agreement aims to strengthen scientific cooperation, knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices in wetland management. The declaration was signed during the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum (IGEF).
Indo-German Environment Forum (IGEF)
The IGEF is the highest-level bilateral platform between India and Germany on environmental policy. It has been held since 2008.
The forum was jointly organised by:
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), India
- Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), Germany
- In association with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
India has been achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments ahead of schedule, reflecting the pace of its environmental transformation. India’s circular economy could potentially generate a market worth over USD 2 trillion and create nearly 10 million jobs by 2050.
Indo-German Green and Sustainable Development Partnership
Under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), Germany has committed €10 billion by 2030 to support India’s green development initiatives.
German cooperation and investment have focused on areas such as:
- Solar and wind energy
- Green hydrogen
- Climate-resilient urban development
- Modernisation of power grids
- Solar-powered agricultural pumps
- Sustainable waste management
Challenges in Partnership
Despite strong cooperation, there are financial and climate-policy differences to consider. Around 90% of Germany’s €10 billion commitment consists of soft loans, which India will have to repay.
The two countries also have different net-zero targets:
- Germany: 2045
- India: 2070
Thus, the partnership combines wetland conservation and broader green-development cooperation, while also involving challenges related to financing and differing climate timelines.