The Observer Research Foundation and State of Green team up on green transition

18 October 2021

In September 2020, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen agreed to elevate the Indo-Danish relations to a Green Strategic Partnership. Revolving around green transition, the partnership seeks to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations, and create jobs.

Since last year’s announcement, several partnerships and ideas have grown out of the government tie-ups. One being a new strategic alliance between India’s largest independent public policy think tank, the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), and State of Green. Signed during the Danish state visit to India on 9-11 October, the collaboration establishes a strategic partnership to collaborate on fellowship, climate change and green transition of the economy.

With attention to the norms and institutions that will catalyse financing of green projects in India and the emerging world, a key topic for collaboration is green financing. In this regard, the activities ahead will focus on the formation of a renewable energy ecosystem and how the green energy transition can create livelihoods and growth. Lastly, the partnership will dive into how frontier technologies can be deployed to enhance adaptation and mitigation in essential industries.

From paper to practice

To ensure a hands-on approach with tangible usage for the transition ahead, ORF and State of Green has agreed on a line of engagements including public and private partners. Amongst others, the two will conduct joint knowledge-sharing on climate plans and goals between India and Denmark in the form of publications, articles, media features and joint research. To maintain an ongoing flow of information, the partnership further aims foster a stakeholder community with members from government, business, academia, and civil society.

To get the cooperation going, the two partners will now identify relevant partners to participate through fellowship and joint engagements in both India and Denmark. Interested parties can get in touch with State of Green for more information.

[caption id="attachment_137791" align="aligncenter" width="450"] ORF's President Samir Saran and Executive Director at State of Green Finn Mortensen at the signing ceremony.[/caption]

A part of something bigger

The partnership between ORF and State of Green ties in with the Indo-Danish energy cooperation since 2017 and the overall linkup to address global opportunities with focus on implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Amongst others, India and Denmark recently launched a joint Centre of Excellence for Offshore Wind and Renewable Energy in New Delhi. The Centre of Excellence for Offshore Wind will be a virtual knowledge hub based on four working groups between Danish and Indian government officials. Working together to provide the best available international knowledge to the development of the offshore wind sector in India, the knowledge hub will deep-dive into long-term energy planning as well as financing, flexibility, spatial planning, and integration of renewable energy sources.

In addition to India’s offshore wind power deployment, the energy cooperation has emphasis on power sector analysis, long-term energy planning and integration of renewables into the power system. You can find more information about the Indo-Danish Energy Cooperation here.

Photo by Bhushan Sadani on Unsplash