John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is set to visit India for a five-day trip starting Tuesday. This comes just days after his visit to China. During his visit to India, Kerry will travel to Chennai and Delhi, where he will attend the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting in Chennai on July 28.
In Delhi, Kerry will meet with senior government officials to discuss shared objectives in renewable and clean energy, as well as climate issues. The visit aims to strengthen collaboration between India and the United States in these critical areas.
The US State Department stated that Kerry’s visit will focus on advancing mutual efforts in building a platform for investments in renewable energy and storage solutions, supporting the deployment of zero-emission buses, and diversifying clean energy supply chains.
The G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting in Chennai is significant as it brings together representatives from G20 countries and aims to address issues related to land degradation, circular economy promotion, and the blue economy. The meeting will also discuss the draft Ministerial Communique, which will be refined for further deliberations in virtual meetings leading up to the final ECSWG meeting to be held in Chennai from July 26 to 27.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized India’s commitment to climate action, highlighting that the country had achieved its non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years ahead of schedule. India now aims to achieve 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030.
Kerry’s visit to China prior to his trip to India did not result in any new agreements, but the talks were regarded as progress in reigniting discussions between the world’s two largest polluters. China reaffirmed its commitment to phasing out carbon dioxide pollution at its own pace.
Kerry’s visit to India is expected to further strengthen international cooperation on climate and clean energy, as the world grapples with the challenges posed by global warming. The talks and meetings in Chennai and Delhi will allow policymakers to exchange ideas and explore collaborative avenues in renewable energy investment and climate change mitigation.
Overall, John Kerry’s visit to India for the G20 Climate Meeting and clean energy discussions is a significant step toward advancing global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. The meetings in Chennai and Delhi aim to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between India and the United States in pursuit of a cleaner and greener future.
