How Are India and the EU Tackling Marine Plastic Litter and Waste-to-Green Hydrogen?

New Delhi, May 16 (NationPress) India and the European Union (EU) have initiated two significant research and innovation projects targeting marine plastic litter and waste-to-green-hydrogen technologies.

The projects were unveiled under the auspices of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which was set up in 2022 through the collaboration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to enhance the bilateral relationship in trade and technology.

With a combined investment of Rs 391 crore, these projects concentrate on two coordinated calls within the fields of Marine Plastic Litter (MPL) and Waste to Green Hydrogen (W2GH), co-financed by Horizon Europe—the EU’s research and innovation framework—and the Indian government.

“Collaborative research is the bedrock of innovation. These initiatives will leverage the capabilities of both Indian and European researchers to formulate solutions for our mutual environmental challenges,” stated Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the government.

Emphasizing the growing momentum of EU-India collaboration, Herve Delphin, EU Ambassador to India, commented, “These research calls under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council illustrate the vibrancy of the EU-India partnership, revitalized by our leaders in Delhi last February.”

“By addressing tangible issues such as marine pollution and sustainable energy collaboratively, we’re fostering innovation, a circular economy, and energy efficiency. The advancement of pioneering technologies in these domains is both economically and environmentally beneficial. We are dedicated to a cleaner, more sustainable future that will serve both the EU and India,” Delphin added.

In spite of global endeavors, marine pollution remains a threat to biodiversity, disrupts ecosystems, and adversely affects human health.

Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, remarked, “Marine pollution poses a global challenge that necessitates collective action. This joint call will facilitate the development of advanced tools and strategies to safeguard our marine ecosystems.”

The second coordinated call addresses the critical demand for sustainable energy solutions via the advancement of waste-to-green hydrogen technologies.

Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, stated that “Enhancing waste-to-hydrogen technologies is vital for achieving our energy transition objectives. This partnership will expedite the innovation of sustainable hydrogen production methods.”