IKI in India: Empowering Climate Action

In March 2024, the annual workshop brought together IKI projects in India for the fourth time.

India is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Simultaneously, it is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Since 2008, India has been one of the priority partner countries of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

To foster climate action, 32 IKI India projects are currently being implemented under the Indo-German bilateral cooperation.

Fostering synergies between IKI projects in India

In March 2024, the fourth IKI India Networking Workshop convened 28 IKI India projects and nearly 70 participants from India and Germany. Jointly organised by the IKI India Interface Project and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the workshop aimed to enhance synergies and knowledge exchange within the IKI portfolio in India. High-level representatives from the three German Ministries as well as the German Embassy contributed to lively and fruitful discussions.

Day one featured opening remarks from GIZ and the German Embassy, emphasising collaboration to enhance synergies among projects. This was followed by a keynote address from ministry representatives highlighting the IKI Strategy 2030, IKI funding priority areas and collaborative efforts across ministries. Subsequently, a first set of IKI projects presented their work priorities, experiences and implementation challenges.

Day two featured further IKI projects followed by interactive thematic working group discussions. Under the focus areas Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Energy, and Biodiversity Conservation, projects discussed best practices, lessons learned, and the way forward to strengthen existing synergies and foster collaboration in line with the Indo-German Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP). 

IKI projects in India cover a wide variety of topics

In addition, the projects discussed concrete examples such as exploring revenue models for conservation efforts, supporting decarbonised eco-tourism in the Himalayas, integrating gender transformative approaches, and intensifying the Indo-German Environment Cooperation for combating marine litter (plastics), to name just a few.

A roundtable discussion on "The Way Forward – Impulses for Future Collaboration" highlighted the need for effective collaboration and knowledge sharing between projects. Suggestions included 

• strengthening inter-ministerial and government dialogues, 
• multi-stakeholder forums, facilitating German ministerial visits to project sites to ensure project continuity and demonstrate project impacts, and
• integrating the private sector. 

Other important aspects that were covered were

• IKI´s priority area of energy, decarbonisation and green mobility with continued support for the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, 
• the focus on international climate politics and diplomacy, 
• civil society engagement and 
• climate-security nexus within the IKI framework.

“IKI India We Share” website for knowledge exchange and collaboration

The workshop concluded with a presentation on the “IKI India We Share” website, which serves as a centralised hub for IKI India projects for knowledge management, exchange and collaboration among implementation partners and stakeholders. 

Overall, the workshop facilitated discussions on IKI strategies and priorities, as well as lessons learned from on-the-ground projects with an emphasis on effective project communication, sustainability and trust-building collaborative efforts to further enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation and address global climate challenges.

Here you will find an overview of IKI project work in India.