Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Germany's Environment Minister Carsten Schneider are set to jointly inaugurate the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum in New Delhi, themed 'Together For More Resilience', as Schneider arrives on a four-day visit to India. The high-level bilateral meet brings together policymakers, business leaders, and climate experts from both nations to advance shared environmental goals.

What the Forum Covers

This year's Forum will centre on circular economy, biodiversity, climate action and adaptation, clean technology, and sustainable finance. Participants are also expected to discuss resource efficiency, sustainable technologies, and investment mobilisation. Schneider is accompanied by a high-level business delegation from Germany, reflecting the commercial dimension of the bilateral engagement.

What the German Minister Said

Speaking ahead of his visit, Schneider said, 'India is increasingly important as a trading partner for Germany and the EU and vital for resilient supply chains. But India is also a key partner for Germany in tackling global environmental and climate challenges. With the Environment Forum, we are strengthening our partnership and advancing our joint interests. This is particularly true for the energy transition.'

He added, 'India is experiencing a renewable energy boom and can supply the public with inexpensive electricity. Germany is benefiting from this boom too, as German companies are leaders in the field of clean tech.'

Scale of the Bilateral Relationship

The Indo-German Environment Forum is the highest-level bilateral format between the two countries in environmental policy and has been held regularly since 2008. It is jointly organised by Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, alongside the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Indian business associations.

According to Germany's Federal Environment Ministry, there are approximately 2,000 German companies with subsidiaries in India, around 700 of them producing locally. India is also the world's largest location of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK), underlining the depth of economic ties.

75 Years of Diplomatic Ties

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Germany — a partnership dating to the post-Second World War era, when India was among the first nations to establish ties with Germany. The Strategic Partnership, formalised through the Agenda for the Indo-German Partnership in the 21st Century adopted in May 2000, has since been reinforced by the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement of 2022 and the launch of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) at the Heads of Government level in 2011.

Schneider's visit and the Forum signal that climate and clean energy are increasingly central to what is already one of India's most substantive European partnerships.