UK–India partnership on energy and climate

As part of the visit by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UK, the countries two Prime Ministers welcomed a comprehensive package of collaboration on energy and climate change that will support economic growth, energy security and energy access.

The package encompasses £3.2bn of commercial agreements, joint research programmes and initiatives to share technical, scientific, and financial and policy expertise. This will encourage the research, development and eventual deployment of clean technology, renewables, gas and nuclear. As part of the package, the UK government has unveiled a UK Climate Investments joint venture with the Green Investment Bank, which will invest up to £200mn in renewable energy and energy efficiency in India and Africa.

The two countries also agreed on the need for an ambitious and comprehensive global agreement to tackle climate change at the COP 21 meeting in Paris and that the agreement should signal to investors and innovators the long-term commitment of governments to clean and more sustainable economies. Negotiations on a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement were also finalised and a Memorandum of Understanding related to closer civil nuclear collaboration between the UK and India. This signals a growing relationship in this sector.