India, France, UAE to Work on Climate Change, Biodiversity

On Saturday, India, France, and the UAE agreed on a tripartite initiative to implement energy projects focused on solar and nuclear sources, combating climate change, and protecting biodiversity, especially in the Indian Ocean region.

A statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the countries will organize tripartite events within the framework of the Indian presidency of the Group of Twenty rich and developing countries, and the UAE's hosting of the COP28 climate negotiations this year.

The foreign ministers of the three countries decided, through a phone call, to adopt a roadmap for implementing the initiative. 

This call was a follow-up to their meeting in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

They will expand their collaboration through initiatives such as the Mangrove Climate Coalition, led by the UAE, and the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership, led by India and France.

It was agreed that the three countries would focus on key issues such as single-use plastic pollution, desertification, and food security in the context of the International Year of Millet, according to the statement.

They agreed to explore the possibility of working with the Indian Ocean Rim Association to pursue clean energy, environment, and biodiversity projects.

The association is a regional forum that brings together representatives of governments, businesses, and academia from South Africa, India, Mauritius, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Tanzania, and some other countries.

The statement said they will seek to ensure greater alignment of their economic, technological, and social policies with the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change and accelerate actions and investments needed for a sustainable, low-carbon future.