India, US ink `arrangement’ on terror, MoU on clean energy
03 Jun 2016
India and the United States on Thursday signed an ''arrangement'' for exchanging of terrorist screening information, adding a new chapter in the growing relationship between the two countries.
The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change.
Under the MoU signed by PK Pujari, secretary in the ministry of power and US ambassador Richard R Verma, India and the US will enhance cooperation in energy security, clean energy and climate change through increased bilateral engagement and further joint initiatives for promoting sustainable growth.
Speaking on the occasion, Pujari said ''USA and India are already working in some areas and this MoU will help in expanding our horizon. It will provide framework to work more closely not only for betterment of our own people but also for creating a positive environment for US companies working in India.''
Richard Verma said the MoU will provide momentum for cooperative work which needs to be done in fields of energy security, clean energy and climate change.
The priority initiatives under the MoU include:
- US-India energy smart cities partnership;
- Greening the grid;
- Promoting energy access through clean energy (PEACE) expansion;
- Energy efficiency, including space cooling;
- Renewable energy;
- Energy security;
- Clean energy finance;
- US-India partnership for climate resilience;
- Air quality monitoring;
- Forestry, landscapes and REDD+;
- Fellowships, and
- Accelerating innovation on clean energy and climate change.
These activities are intended to increase incentives for innovation, including research and development, and voluntary and mutually-agreed technology transfer, as well as the deployment of clean energy technologies in both countries; contribute to a global effort to curb the rise in greenhouse gas emissions; and enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change.