Using resources efficiently and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety is promoting projects in India with the aim of improving resource efficiency.

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) is promoting projects in India with the aim of improving resource efficiency. As part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), EUR 3 million is being provided to support the country in using resources more efficiently in industry and improving recycling processes. In this way India can make a key contribution to global environmental and climate protection, which will also benefit the population and the economy. Furthermore, the project will improve the security of supply, introduce innovative technologies and processes into businesses, reduce costs and create new jobs.

Rapid economic growth, increasing consumption and expansion of the infrastructure is leading to higher resource consumption in India. At the same time, the many options for saving or reusing raw materials are not being adequately exploited. The mining and the inefficient utilisation of raw materials such as coal, copper, aluminium and phosphorus harms the environment and leads to the emission of greenhouse gases. BMUB has been cooperating closely with India for years on sustainable energy supply and climate change mitigation.

In the initial phase of the project, studies will analyse how raw material efficiency in economically important sectors in India, such as the mining and automotive sectors, can be improved and how material can be reused. Based on the results, pilot measures in companies will be developed with local partners. These will be supplemented through training and advisory services for policy-makers, which will provide them with the necessary know-how to create suitable institutional framework conditions and incentives for a resource-efficient and low-carbon economy. An Indian resource panel with representatives from academia, politics, the private sector and civil society will be created as a forum for regular exchanges of ideas and experience.

The project is being implemented locally by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and builds on existing initiatives receiving support from Germany.