COUNTRY PROFILE
Can India-Denmark GSP inspire rapid green transitions in developing countries? India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership aims to build on the existing linkages to tackle Climate Change, and has the potential to accelerate the march towards a low carbon future. BY PRASHANT SHARMA
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he India-Denmark bilateral economic relationship of around 400 years was accorded GSP status during the virtual Leaders’ Summit on September 28, 2020. A catalytic pathway appears to be the 2009 Joint Commission for Cooperation Pact. The pact resulted in joint Working Groups on a range of sectors such as renewable energy, urban development, environment, agriculture, food processing, science, technology and innovation, shipping, labour mobility and digitalization etc. India-Denmark GSP aims to build on existing linkages to tackle the daunting challenge of Climate
Change and deliver on Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, the visit of the Danish Prime Minister was a significant milestone as it came right after a year of the 2020 Summit, and right before Glasgow Climate Conference in OctoberNovember 2021. Measures such as India-Denmark Joint Action Plan for 2021-26 have also been put in place for implementation of GSP. High level political exchanges are further expected, including at the India-Nordic Summit in Copenhagen in 2022. The two countries could now strive to build on a few focus areas to maximise sustainability gains for India & other developing countries.
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SYNERGISING PRIORITIES Denmark has set an ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 70% by 2030 compared to 1990 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. On the other hand, India has set the target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070, and announced a 2030 transition pathway. It strives to increase non-fossil fuel based energy capacity to 500 GW, meet 50% of India’s energy requirements from renewable sources, reduce 1 billion tonnes of projected carbon emissions, and cut carbon intensity of the economy below 45%. India’s position at Glasgow Climate Conference is in line with
