Bilateral Relations

Canada — India

The International Affairs Branch oversees the overall bilateral cooperation with India on environmental issues. The following represents a summary of EC led environment-related initiatives between Canada and India.

Canada-India Environmental Forum

In January 2005, a joint statement was issued by the Prime Ministers of Canada and India during a visit to India. The statement recognized the importance of environmental management and sustainable development and confirmed the intent of both countries “to deepen environmental cooperation, including the promotion of environmental friendly technologies”. Both countries have agreed to create an India-Canada Forum for Environmental Cooperation which would serve as a mechanism through which cooperation on environmental management, sustainable development, climate change and green technologies could be enhanced (in a structured way). Both countries are negotiating an agreed text for the terms of reference for the Forum. Environment Canada is the lead department for the Forum on the Canadian-side, and negotiations with India are handled by the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

CDM MoU

Canada and India signed a CDM MoU in December 2005. Environment Canada works with Canada’s CDM & JI Office to identify potential opportunities to promote Canadian technologies that reduce GHG emissions.

The Canada-India Environmental Institutional Strengthening Project

This project built long-term collaboration between Environment Canada and the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The two departments worked together to strengthen India's institutional capacity to tackle pressing environmental issues, such as air quality, hazardous waste and toxic substances through the exchange of information, joint workshops, training, technology demonstration and the supply of emissions monitoring equipment. Environment Canada provided overall management and technical assistance to the project, and the Canadian International Development Agency contributed $4 million over five years, from 2001 to 2005. Other partners involved in the project included Canada Border Services Agency, the Central Pollution Control Board of India and the United Nations Institute for Training & Research.