MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh plants Rowan sapling in Iceland under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'
Synopsis
India's Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh took PM Modi's tree-planting initiative global, planting a sacred Rowan sapling in Iceland's Porsmork Forest — while simultaneously holding climate and clean energy talks with Iceland's environment minister, fresh from the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit.
Key Takeaways
MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh planted a Rowan sapling at Porsmork Forest, Iceland on 10 October 2026 under PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative.
The Rowan tree is considered sacred in Icelandic folklore and is typically protected from harvesting.
Singh met Iceland's Environment Minister Johann Pall Johannsson in Reykjavik on 9 October to discuss clean energy, climate action and sustainable development cooperation.
Johannsson had just returned from India after attending the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit .
Singh toured the Hellisheioi Power Plant , one of the world's leading geothermal energy facilities, exploring lessons for India-Iceland energy cooperation .
The minister also briefed Embassy of India officials in Reykjavik on PM Modi's 3T vision — Trade, Technology and Tourism .
Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, on Saturday, 10 October 2026, visited the Porsmork Forest in Iceland and planted a Rowan sapling — a native Icelandic species — as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) initiative. The symbolic act underscored India's commitment to global environmental partnerships beyond its own borders.
The Sapling and Its Significance
The Rowan tree, chosen for the planting, carries deep cultural weight in Iceland. 'The Rowan tree is historically considered sacred in Icelandic folklore and often protected from harvesting,' Singh noted in his remarks. By selecting a species with local ecological and cultural resonance, the gesture aligned India's flagship tree-planting drive with Iceland's own conservation heritage at the Porsmork Forest, an area celebrated for its efforts to restore and protect a unique sub-Arctic ecosystem.
Bilateral Talks on Clean Energy and Climate Action
A day earlier, on Friday, 9 October, Singh met Johann Pall Johannsson, Iceland's Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, in Reykjavik. The two sides held what Singh described as 'a productive exchange on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in clean and renewable energy, climate action and sustainable development.' Notably, Johannsson had just returned from India after attending the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, lending additional diplomatic momentum to the talks.
Visit to Hellisheioi Geothermal Plant
Singh also toured the Hellisheioi Power Plant, described as one of the world's leading geothermal energy facilities. The minister said the visit offered 'valuable lessons for strengthening India-Iceland cooperation in geothermal energy and the broader clean energy transition.' Iceland derives the overwhelming bulk of its electricity and heating from geothermal and hydropower, a model that Indian policymakers have been studying as the country accelerates its own renewable energy targets.
Diplomatic Engagement and PM Modi's 3T Vision
On the sidelines of his visit, Singh interacted with officials of the Embassy of India in Reykjavik, encouraging them to pursue diplomatic priorities with dedication. He specifically invoked Prime Minister Modi's framework of the 3Ts — Trade, Technology and Tourism — as the guiding pillars for deepening India-Iceland ties across key areas of cooperation. This comes amid a broader Indian diplomatic push to build climate and clean-energy partnerships with Nordic and EFTA nations.
Point of View
Partnerships with countries that have cracked baseload clean power are strategically valuable. The timing, coinciding with Johann Pall Johannsson's return from the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, suggests this was a coordinated diplomatic push rather than a routine ministerial tour. Whether it translates into technology transfer agreements or remains at the level of 'productive exchanges' will be the real measure of its worth.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) is a tree-planting campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that encourages citizens and officials to plant a tree as a tribute to their mothers. The initiative aims to drive large-scale afforestation across India and, as this visit shows, is now being extended to diplomatic engagements abroad.
Why did MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh visit Iceland?
Singh visited Iceland for a diplomatic tour covering environmental and clean energy cooperation. Key activities included planting a Rowan sapling at Porsmork Forest, bilateral talks with Iceland's Environment Minister Johann Pall Johannsson, and a visit to the Hellisheioi geothermal power plant.
What is the significance of the Rowan tree planted in Iceland?
The Rowan is a native Icelandic species that holds sacred status in Icelandic folklore and is traditionally protected from harvesting. Choosing a culturally and ecologically significant local species aligned the Indian initiative with Iceland's own conservation heritage.
What areas of cooperation did India and Iceland discuss?
India and Iceland held talks on clean and renewable energy, climate action, and sustainable development. There was particular focus on geothermal energy, given Iceland's world-leading expertise at facilities like the Hellisheioi Power Plant, which Singh visited during his tour.
What is PM Modi's 3T vision mentioned during the visit?
PM Modi's 3T framework stands for Trade, Technology and Tourism, and serves as the guiding pillar for India's bilateral engagement with partner nations. Singh invoked the framework while briefing Embassy of India officials in Reykjavik on diplomatic priorities for deepening India-Iceland ties.
