The European Union (EU) and India are intensifying cooperation on clean energy, climate action, and industrial decarbonization, highlighted by the launch of the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) in India.

EU-India Strategic Climate Partnership

Speaking at the ITA launch event in New Delhi, Bartosz Przywara, Counsellor for Energy, Climate Action and Environment at the EU delegation to India, confirmed the "very strong cooperation" between the two partners. The event marked a "new implementation phase" for the ITA project in India, which is being launched ahead of COP30.

Przywara explained that the ITA is designed to facilitate the adoption of green technologies and secure financing for Indian industries, particularly in "hard-to-abate" sectors, to advance their decarbonization pathways. He affirmed the EU's strong support for this transition, noting it aligns with India's broader sustainability agenda.

A central theme of the partnership is to demonstrate the feasibility of decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions. Przywara highlighted the EU's success in this area, stating that the bloc’s economy grew by 68 per cent between 1990 and 2023, while its emissions were cut by 38 per cent. This collaboration builds on the long-standing EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, which has been active since 2016. Przywara noted this partnership has generated "hundreds of events and activities" involving exchanges of best practices and support for green transition legislation.

Further cooperation includes the EU-India Climate Dialogue, where the EU shares insights from its 20 years of experience managing the world's oldest and largest carbon market. The EU also supports the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LID-IT), a multilateral initiative co-founded by India and Sweden.

Przywara indicated that recent high-level engagements, including a visit by the College of Commissioners, have reinforced the relationship. A joint communication on a new EU-India agenda has been issued, and both partners are optimistic about a potential summit to "confirm and elevate" cooperation.

India's Green Transition Potential

Also speaking at the event, Sumit Gupta, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), identified India as "well-positioned" to lead the global green transition. He cited the nation's low cost of renewable energy, robust industrial base, and growing innovation ecosystem as key advantages.

Gupta emphasised that the primary challenge is execution, specifically moving projects "from paper to plant." He stressed the need for a comprehensive ecosystem that addresses challenges in innovative financing, capital access, and the alignment of technology with market needs.

Ultimately, the EU-India Strategic Climate Partnership aims to serve as a powerful global demonstration that decoupling economic growth from carbon emissions is achievable. By sharing its two decades of experience with the world's oldest carbon market and showcasing its own success in cutting emissions while growing its economy, the EU provides a blueprint. The collaboration—reinforced by high-level political engagement and mutual optimism for a future summit—is a commitment not only to support India's sustainability agenda but also to chart a global pathway in which climate ambition and economic prosperity are mutually reinforcing. The ITA, therefore, is more than a project; it is a strategic investment in India's industrial future and a beacon of hope for international climate cooperation ahead of COP30.