Following his trip to China, John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is set to embark on a five-day visit to India starting on Tuesday, with a focus on climate and clean energy discussions.
During his visit from July 25 to 29, Kerry will be traveling to Delhi and Chennai. In Delhi, he will hold meetings with senior government officials to further common goals on climate and clean energy. The objectives include collaborating on investments in renewable energy and storage solutions, supporting the adoption of zero-emission buses, and expanding clean energy supply chains, as stated by the US State Department.
In Chennai, Secretary Kerry will be participating in the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on July 28.
Kerry’s visit to India is timely as New Delhi is increasingly emphasizing sustainable energy initiatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting, expressing India’s commitment to achieving 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030. He highlighted the crucial role of energy in development and asserted that India is making significant strides in solar and wind power, as well as green growth and energy transition.
Before his visit to India, John Kerry concluded a four-day visit to China on July 19. While no new agreements were reached during his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kerry remained optimistic about restarting dialogues between the world’s two largest polluters after a year of strained relations. Though no concrete outcomes were achieved, Kerry considered the mere act of communication as a step forward.
In conclusion, John Kerry’s visit to India aims to strengthen cooperation on climate and clean energy matters, and it coincides with India’s efforts towards sustainable energy solutions.