Senator Menendez brings legislation for India-US climate cooperation
A TOP US senator has introduced legislation to bolster cooperation between the US and India in clean energy and climate change.
Robert Menendez, a Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey who is also the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week introduced the Prioritizing Clean Energy and Climate Cooperation with India Act 2021 which came a day after the US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry launched the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue in New Delhi.
‘Given the shared threat of climate change and India’s growing need for electricity, there is a strong case to be made for strengthening the US-India clean energy partnership. In that vein, I am introducing this legislation having witnessed firsthand the positive results that come when our nations work as a team to tackle common challenges,’ Menendez said.
‘By establishing the US-India Climate and Clean Energy Partnership, we are laying the groundwork for successful partnerships between not only the US and Indian governments, but also our universities and private sectors. I am proud to lead this effort to further strengthen our relationship with India,’ he added.
The legislation proposes, among other things to establish the US-India Climate and Clean Energy Partnership (CCEP) as the main forum for cooperation between the two democracies on clean energy technologies and energy transmission.
CCEP activities include promoting joint research and development on clean energy technologies, encouraging America’s private investment in India’s clean energy market and supporting initiatives to develop new renewable energy generation capacity in the Asian country.
The Act also promotes US-India cooperation on climate resilience and risk reduction, according to a media release.
Observing that Narendra Modi has prioritized improving citizen access to electricity and electrifying every household in India, the US legislation asserts that India, in contrast to China, is demonstrating that climate action is a priority through concrete steps, including a climate plan which is compatible with the goal of limiting global average temperature rise below two degree Celsius.