Strengthening UK-India Climate Cooperation: India-UK PACT State Workshop in Chennai

The India-UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) State-level workshop held in Chennai on August 22, 2025, marks a significant development in strengthening the climate partnership between the United Kingdom and India. This event highlights the collaborative commitment of both governments towards advancing sustainable urban development and accelerating carbon-neutral transitions within India's rapidly evolving urban landscapes. The workshop emphasizes innovative approaches in urban planning and mobility with a clear focus on large-scale climate action and resilient growth.

Focus on Carbon-Neutral Urban Transitions

Organized by the UK Government in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC) and the Government of Tamil Nadu, the workshop convened senior state and city officials, academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and international collaborators. The central agenda revolved around implementing the UK-PACT projects specifically targeting urban decarbonization efforts in the districts of Erode and Thoothukudi. These projects aim to foster carbon-neutral urban transitions by integrating innovative technologies and sustainable policy frameworks focused on low-carbon urban mobility and planning.

Collaborative Framework and Partnership Milestones

A highlight of the workshop was the ceremonial exchange of letters between the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company and the UK Government, symbolizing a formalized partnership dedicated to decarbonizing urban planning and mobility sectors through joint innovation and action. This milestone reflects the intent to deepen cooperation in areas such as smart mobility solutions and clean transport infrastructure development.

Key stakeholders and implementing partners involved include the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) India, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), CENEX (UK’s low emission vehicle experts), and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). These collaborations underpin the technical and policy support crucial for the successful execution of the projects.

Insights on Funding and Innovation for Green Mobility

Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu of Tamil Nadu’s Department of Climate Change, Environment and Forests emphasized the critical role of sustainable funding mechanisms for green mobility initiatives. Highlighting innovative approaches, she referenced the extended producer responsibility framework, suggesting that revenue recycling could provide financial support to local bodies fostering greener urban transport and infrastructure.

Technical Discussions on Data and Finance

The workshop featured focused technical sessions on leveraging data and technology for climate and transport planning, led by experts from IIT Madras. Additionally, dialogues on accelerating climate finance explored the challenges and opportunities faced by urban local bodies (ULBs) in accessing and deploying funds for climate-resilient infrastructure and services, thus addressing key financial hurdles in climate action at the municipal level.

Significance of the India-UK Climate Partnership

This workshop represents a critical step in the broader India-UK PACT initiative, which supports India’s national objectives to reduce emissions intensity and achieve carbon neutrality through systemic reforms. It aligns with India’s ambitious commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2070. The partnership leverages UK expertise to accelerate policy reforms, technology adoption, and climate finance mobilization, further strengthening the diplomatic and operational ties between the two nations in the climate domain.

By bringing together multiple stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and civil society, the Chennai workshop underscores the collaborative spirit essential for tackling urban climate challenges. The sustained engagement through UK PACT is expected to drive scalable innovations and practical solutions for climate-resilient urban development in Tamil Nadu and beyond, forming a model for future India-UK climate collaborations.

This initiative not only demonstrates the shared commitment of India and the UK towards clean, resilient urban futures but also highlights the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation in addressing global climate change through locally tailored and impactful interventions.