India, Sweden join forces to achieve green transition goals
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday hosted the India-Sweden Sustainability and Green Transition Day in South Mumbai, where Sweden launched the India-Sweden Green Transition Partnership (ISGTP) to promote exchange of carbon-neutral business practices and solutions, co-create localized innovations and share expertise and knowledge related to the green transition. In the first phase, the focus will be on three areas cement, steel and vehicles for green transition.
The event was flagged off in the presence of Jan Thesleff, Sweden’s Ambassador to India, Anna Lekvall, Sweden’s Consul General in Mumbai, and Cecilia Oskarsson, Sweden’s Trade Commissioner in India.
Romina Pourmokhtari, Sweden’s Minister of Climate and Environment, participated virtually in the event. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also delivered the keynote address for the event via a recorded video.
India and Sweden have already signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in energy, environment, urban development and other sectors, for India’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2070. Wednesday marked another step in cooperation between the two countries.
“To take this collaboration further, Team Sweden, together with Swedish agencies and companies, has conceptualized the platform – India Sweden Green Transition Partnership (ISGTP). This partnership is a commitment to our joint effort and our responsibility to build a climate-neutral future for both countries, it said in a statement on Wednesday.
Cecilia Oskarsson told Indian Express on Wednesday “As part of the collaboration, priority areas have been identified. We have identified 13 sectors related to six companies that have now registered. In this first part, we have chosen to focus on 3 areas – cement, steel and vehicles. For us, this is the first priority. But as we see it, this is a long-term commitment and collaboration, which will last for many years.”
“The three industries that we have chosen are some of the biggest emitters in the world, not just in India but across the world. It’s not the easiest thing to start with but the necessary thing to deal with.” Jan Thesleff told The Indian Express.