Executive Vice-President Timmermans in India and Maldives for COP28 preparation

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, starts on Thursday a visit to India (25-26 May) and the Maldives (27-28 May) to discuss with government representatives, stakeholders and civil society the path towards the upcoming COP28 UN Climate Change Conference and latest developments at national level on emission reductions, the clean energy transition, and environmental protection.

During his time in New Delhi, the Executive Vice-President will have bilateral meetings with the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav; Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh; Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi; and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

On Thursday, he will participate in a High-Level roundtable with national think tanks, civil society and business representatives organised by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. Later, he will deliver a keynote speech at the Annual Session of the Confederation of Indian Industry, focused on ‘Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability, and Internationalisation’. On Friday, he will discuss EU-India collaboration on Climate Action and the Clean Energy Transition with students at the Indian Institute of Technology, in Delhi.

On Saturday, Mr Timmermans will travel to the Maldives for a site visit to a waste management and biodiversity project in K. Hura, accompanied by the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Aminath Shauna; followed by a discussion with local councilors, NGOs and project beneficiaries on how local initiatives can help fight climate change. 

On Sunday, he will meet with Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to discuss the preparatory work towards COP28 and the growing impact of climate change on the islands. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister and former UN General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid; Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan; and the Speaker of Parliament and former President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. In the capital, Male, Executive Vice-President Timmermans will also discuss with young people the challenges of the climate crisis and the possible way forward.