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06/18/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2025 23:42

Speech by EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin at the India Net Zero Forum

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Speech by EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin at the India Net Zero Forum

18.06.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to INDIA and BHUTAN

Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India was invited, as guest of honour, to deliver an address to the inaugural session of the 2025 India Net Zero Forum, organised by The Economic Times. The forum is a one-day event, bringing together industry, policy makers and stakeholders in green energy, climate strategy and carbon reduction initiatives.

Speech by H.E. Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India at the India Net Zero Forum

  • Honourable Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change;

  • Honourable Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India;

  • Honourable Raj Kumar Chaudhary, Chairman and managing Director, NHPC Ltd.;

  • Honourable Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman and Managing Director of NLC India Ltd.;

  • Honourable Nadir Godrej, Chairman of Godrej Agrovet;

  • Honourable Sudheer Pal Singh, Editor, ET Energy World, Economic Times;

  • Honourable Shaji KV, Chairman, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development;

  • Honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen,

  • Good morning, Namaskar!

  • Thank you very much for inviting me to address this meeting of the India Net Zero Forum.

  • Climate action and decarbonisation is one of the key areas where Prime Minister Modi and European Commission President von der Leyen asked for deeper cooperation when they met in February during the unprecedented EU-India College-to-government meeting. Because it holds great potential for our bilateral cooperation, and because it is crucial for our planet and our people.

  • The world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Current policies and pledges are insufficient, and the gap between ambition and action continues to widen.

  • The cost of not acting or not acting fast enough - is potentially huge. For any country.

  • Climate induced disasters - sudden-onset or slow-onset - turn more frequent and more devastating. They can wipe out decades of investments and billions worth of infrastructures.

  • A recent report by the Asian Development Bank has estimated that India could experience a significant GDP loss due to climate change, potentially reaching 24.7% by 2070.

  • As we confront the climate crisis, the importance of strategic partnerships has never been greater. Among our closest and most vital partners is India.

  • With its growing economy and its growing energy demand, India has a central role to play in global discussions on climate action. India's domestic ambitions are pivotal, given the size of its economy and the expected growth in GDP and in energy needs.

  • India's commitment under the Paris climate agreement is a recognition of climate change as a global challenge that demands collective action. India's announcement at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 was a significant milestone.

  • The European Union deeply respects India's nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the unique context in which these commitments have been made.

  • India has pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, and to ensure that half of its installed electric power capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

  • Progress has been impressive in recent years. The target of achieving 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity by 2030 reflects a bold commitment to transforming the energy system. Currently, India has installed over 210 GW of renewable capacity, including solar, wind, small hydro, and biomass.

  • The European Union applauds India's leadership in solar energy deployment, exemplified by the National Solar Mission. EU is a firm supporter of the International Solar Alliance, an initiative launched thanks to India's decisive leadership.

  • The National Green Hydrogen Mission is also a forward-looking initiative that promises to decarbonise heavy industries and the transport sector. We recognise the strategic importance of green hydrogen and look forward to further cooperation with India, notably through our joint EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership.

  • India's rapid urbanisation presents both challenges and opportunities for climate action. The European Union supports India's smart cities initiative, also through our partnership on smart and sustainable urbanisation, which integrates energy-efficient infrastructure, sustainable transport, and green buildings.

  • Despite remarkable progress, India faces significant challenges in its net zero journey: financing the energy transition, ensuring just transitions for vulnerable communities, upgrading grid infrastructure, and fostering innovation at scale. In the EU we admire, encourage and support India in its endeavours to rise up to the challenges.

  • In India, the industrial sector is the largest and fastest-growing energy end-use sector and is expected to be the single largest source of CO2 emissions by 2040. Decarbonisation of industry therefore needs to be addressed to achieve India's net-zero ambition by 2070.

  • India is the second largest producer of both steel and cement, which account for 15-20% of India's emissions. In a business-as-usual scenario, emissions from these sectors are expected to increase three-fold by 2050.

  • The EU supports India's transition through sustainable finance initiatives, including facilitating investments in green infrastructure and promoting the growth of green bonds.

  • I want to praise India's impressive pool of expertise and talents on Climate and decarbonisation, hosted by lead institutes and think tanks and the mobilisation of the Indian private sector.

  • For example, the recently launched joint study report by the Global Cement and Concrete Association of India and TERI on a Decarbonisation Roadmap for the India Cement industry - net zero by 2070.

  • There is good news - a silver lining - that must be repeated time and again: climate action is compatible with economic growth. It is even an accelerator of growth ! The OECD recently reported that in the period 2015-2022, Global GDP grew 22% while emissions only grew 7% with 40 countries increasing GDP while cutting emissions. Clean energy markets are developing, fuelled by sound policies and by market demand. So, yes, you can decouple Growth from Emissions.

  • Investing in clean tech, in decarbonised industries is a smart economic choice.

  • It is also smart to explore and tap into the full potential of the circular economy, promoting recycling and energy efficiency. The cheapest and cleanest energy is the one you don't consume. In that respect, India can also show the way with its ingenuity, creativity and talent. I was recently in Chennai to engage with Indian actors and start-ups involved in Recycling, the Circular economy and resource efficiency. Waste can be turned into a gold mine.

  • On the multilateral level, within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, both the EU and India are strong advocates of ambitious climate action that respects equity and developmental considerations.

  • And, as members of the G20, both India and the EU collaborate on approaches to sustainable finance, clean energy investment, and climate risk management.

  • For her part, European Commission President von der Leyen has set out her ambition to establish a Global Energy Transitions Forum, to bring together governments, international organizations and financial actors to double down on implementation. We have only 5 years until 2030, so it is imperative to keep momentum. We hope India can add its voice to this Forum

  • By working together bilaterally and in multilateral fora, the European Union and India are demonstrating that climate action is both an imperative and an opportunity.

  • We look forward to deepening our collaboration, leveraging our combined expertise, and forging innovative pathways that can deliver climate justice, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability for all.

  • I will conclude by looking ahead to the COP 30 meeting in Belém in Brazil in November 2025. This will be our opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement and building on the successes of COP28 and COP29.

  • Our ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions are needed to push forward the global effort to limit temperature rise. Less than 20 countries presented their NDC by the set deadline of 10 February 2025.

  • Sufficiently strong NDCs will need to be backed urgently by measures that maximize socio-economic and environmental co-benefits, international collaboration, private sector action and significant investment.

  • In this context, the role and influence of India are crucial.

  • The EU and its Member States look forward to continuing to work with India on the implementation of its decarbonisation ambition. The level of India's ambition will be the determining factor in whether the world as a whole is able to meet its collective objectives in the years and decades to come.

  • Honourable guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. I wish you all a productive day of discussions !

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