US senator launches bill to boost India-US cooperation in clean energy

A United States senator has introduced legislation to strengthen India-US cooperation in the clean energy and climate change areas. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez, launched the prioritising clean energy and climate cooperation with India act of 2021 and it arrives a day after John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, launched the climate action and finance mobilisation dialogue (CAFMD) in New Delhi. He said that there is a strong case to be made for strengthening the US-India clean energy partnership, given the shared warning of climate change and India's growing demand for electricity. While introducing this legislation have observed firsthand the positive results that come when our nations work as a team to tackle common difficulties. Menendez said that by setting the US-India climate and clean energy partnership (CCEP), the foundation is being laid for successful partnerships between not only the US-Indian governments but also the universities and private areas. The legislation sets the US-India CCEP as the main forum for collaboration between the US and India on clean energy technologies and energy transmission. CCEP activities involve inspiring US private investment in the Indian clean energy market, encouraging joint research and development on clean energy technologies, and encouraging initiatives to promote India's new renewable energy production capacity. As described in India's intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) to the Paris agreement, India's unconditional emissions target is to decrease the emissions intensity of a gross domestic product (GDP) by 33% to 35% by 2030, it said. This bill will also assist the Biden administration's US-India climate and clean energy agenda 2030 partnership, which strives to promote bilateral cooperation on robust climate action and support the achievement of India's climate targets, the release said. Image Source Also read: India and US to expand energy partnership through emerging fuels