Ahead of the COP-28 Climate Summit, UK Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero Claire Coutinho has called for greater collaboration between the United Kingdom (UK) and India in addressing common climate goals. The minister made the comments the India Global Forum’s (IGF) annual Westminster Diwali Reception.
“I’m very proud to be doing the role that I do, energy and net zero. It’s hugely important to not only this country’s ambitions, but to all of our international partners as well. And one of the things that I have found in my past work is that relationship – that living bridge – that we have with India is so valuable because we share so many goals, and energy and climate change is no different. The innovation, the people, the expertise that we bring, the financial expertise, the brilliant technologies that we are working across borders is hugely important to us to make sure that we can achieve our goal, that we can work so well together,” she said.
IGF’s Diwali Reception witnessed the convergence of eminent figures from public service, business, arts, and the media to celebrate the ‘Festival of Lights’ and the robust UK-India partnership.
Manoj Ladwa, Founder and CEO IGF, set the tone for the evening, by emphasising the national strategic importance of the UK-India relationship. “We cannot allow this relationship to become a football that is tossed around in the political arena. And I am therefore so pleased that, as every year, we have representatives from both the main political parties.”
Outlining the potential for UK-India partnership in achieving global initiatives, particularly in Net Zero targets, Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, said: “Frankly, the UK has an enormous opportunity in contributing to net zero, not just in your country, important as that is, but where it will really matter is, if India achieves net zero in a manner that is practical, affordable, and in line with our equally important goal of ensuring that 1.4 billion people have a quality of life that is worth living.
“We are in the most exciting opportunity to leverage technology and to deploy it at scale in India through partnerships that will be second to none. IGF offers an opportunity to explore these, but the relationship itself is the best testing ground for making a change for the world. To that, let me wish you the opportunity to make Diwali truly a festival for the future.”
Concurring with the High Commissioner, Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall said: “My absolute priority as a member of Labour’s shadow cabinet, and in charge of Work and Pensions, is to use the power of technology to transform the lives of people in this country to grow our economy, but also to radically reform our public services. There is much I believe we can learn for what is happening, the dynamism that’s shown in India, and I’ve discussed this with the High Commissioner already, there is huge potential and huge opportunity for us to to learn from what you’re doing.”
Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, expressed full support for the Free Trade Agreement with India, stating: “As a member of the shadow cabinet with responsibility for trade, I am keeping a very close eye on those trade negotiations… Trade deals if they are done right could, and I think would, deliver a new golden age of British-India cooperation and strengthen quality of that relationship. And we are very much committed in principle on the Labour side to seeing that succeed. We know there are a few things left to do, but you have our absolute commitment to continue work with the business community here in the UK to make sure that it is everything that it could and should be.”
“The relationships that the UK and India can foster and grow together are very critical,” observed Saif Malik, CEO & Reg. Head, UK & Europe, Standard Chartered. “India is expected to spend a 100 million dollars on its net zero plan, and that is a huge opportunity for everyone here, for the UK economy and for us,” he said.
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