India, EU to bolster cooperation in sustainable development

BRUSSELS: With a focus on climate change after the historical agreement in Paris, India and EU have agreed to work together towards bolstering sustainable development and enhance cooperation on environmental issues. Agreeing to address the challenges plaguing the environment, the two sides adopted theJoint Declaration between the EU and India on aClean Energy and Climate Partnership. The summit was held on March 30 in Brussels, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The joint declaration between the two sides on climate change is key to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and will trigger a renewed climate dialogue with India.The two sides sought to reinforce energy cooperation, mainly on renewable energy sources, promote clean energy generation and increased energy efficiency. Both sides welcomed the adoption of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and agreed to start a dialogue on their full and swift implementation at national, regional and global levels, aimed at identifying common priorities and future collaboration in these areas. Both sides recognised the need to ensure coherence and mutually reinforce the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted in March 2015 which underpins a risk-informed and resilient sustainable development agenda, the joint statement said. India and EU agreed to continue dialogue and cooperation, in the context of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The EU welcomed the initiative for an International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched in Paris on 30th November 2015. The alliance was launched by Mr Modi and Frances President Francois Hollande in Paris. Both sides agreed to explore ways to work together to further the ISA’s objectives.