By Business India Editorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen held talks on expanding cooperation last week, in a range of areas such as health, agriculture, water management, climate change and renewable energy.

In the keynote address, Frederiksen highlighted the green strategic partnership between India and Denmark, a first of its kind for both countries. She mentioned that the partnership was aimed at addressing climate change.

The Danish Prime Minister mentioned that Denmark had aimed to reduce 70 per cent of the carbon emissions by 2030. This included a pledge to end the use of coal, oil, and natural gas by 2050, new green solutions, promoting renewables, and increasing private sector participation. The path had been uncertain, but due to strong political will, Denmark has already been able to achieve 50 per cent of its target.

She further highlighted that the transition will take difficult choices. For Denmark this has meant shutting down oil and gas in the North Sea, closing coal-fired plants, and reducing financing of fossil powered projects abroad.

The governments signed agreements including the one between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Geological survey of Denmark to conduct groundwater mapping and the other between the Indian Institute of Science and Danfoss Industries to set up a research centre on carbon-based cooling systems are part of the “Green Strategic Partnership” that India and Denmark forged after a virtual summit between PMs Modi and Frederiksen in September 2020.

Meanwhile, Reliance New Energy Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, and Denmark-based Stiesdal (Stiesdal) signed a cooperation agreement for technology development and manufacturing of Stiesdal’s hydrogen electrolyzers in India.