European Union, India need to step up their cooperation in renewable energy: EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that the European Union (EU) and India need to step up their cooperation in renewable energy. Ms von der Leyen is in India on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening European Union-India ties.
On the first day yesterday, she interacted with youngsters at the TERI Gram campus in Haryana, which is devoted to developing green technologies. She also addressed a gathering at the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which was jointly launched by India and France.

During her address at ISA, Von der Leyen noted that Europe wants to be carbon neutral by 2050 and India by 2070. India has also committed to generating half its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030 and Europe has set similar goals, and both sides believe solar energy will play a decisive role in these efforts.
She also noted India’s energy use had doubled in the past two decades and will continue to grow, reflecting that the country’s economy is doing well.

Noting that India and the EU are on the same path, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced India should be energy independent before it celebrates 100 years of its independence in 2047. She said, while the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership was adopted in 2016, the two sides can do more to improve the situation.

Union Power Minister R K Singh, who is also the President of International Solar Alliance, ISA Assembly, noted that India has taken the globally acknowledged initiative of energy transition. Mr Singh said, it is time now for all countries to come together and contribute to solve each other’s problems.