By Varun Mohan and Dr Prakash Pannerselvam
Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges of our time, demanding concerted efforts from nations across the globe. The changing climate and its impact on security are already considered to transform the ‘geopolitical landscape’ of the Indo-Pacific region. In this context, India and Australia emerge as pivotal players, given their substantial populations, economic activities, and carbon footprints. India and Australia have recognised the criticality of addressing climate change within respective policy frameworks, aligning with international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.
India, guided by its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), has set forth ambitious targets aimed at reducing emissions intensity while concurrently ramping up renewable energy capacities. Likewise, Australia has developed a suite of policy instruments to tackle climate change, including the Climate Change Act, the Emissions Reduction Fund, and the Renewable Energy Target. Nonetheless, the efficacy of Australia’s policies has come under scrutiny, particularly amidst its entrenched reliance on fossil fuels. While the Australian Government has declared that it will achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the country’s efforts to abate climate change are still categorised as “low” in the Climate Change Performance Index 2024. In the same index, India is rated as “high.” Still, India’s world-lagging target of carbon neutrality by 2070 presents an equally contested issue in the global economy.
India’s approach to climate change is underpinned by a steadfast commitment to sustainable development, with policy initiatives geared toward promoting renewable energy, bolstering energy efficiency, and fortifying resilience to climate-induced disruptions. The nation has made significant strides in the realm of solar and wind energy, positioning itself as a global leader in renewable energy deployment. In stark contrast, Australia’s policy landscape has been characterised by inconsistency and policy vacillation, with successive changes in government priorities engendering a climate of uncertainty for investors and stakeholders alike. Despite possessing abundant potential for renewable energy, Australia’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation poses a formidable obstacle to achieving emissions reduction targets.
India’s policy is significantly influenced by its obligations towards equitable development policies, particularly focusing on poverty alleviation and social growth. This necessitates a nuanced approach to emissions reduction, especially compared to Australia, which has historically prioritised economic growth. Moreover, Australia’s continued support for coal mining and export industries runs counter to global imperatives for phasing out fossil fuels, further exacerbating the schism between the two countries’ climate strategies. Furthermore, Australia remains one of the foremost coal exporters, with 21.5% of its coal export is directed to India. This indirectly facilitates the use of fossil fuels in India, contradicting the nation’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to achieve approximately 50 percent of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030, as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution.
Notwithstanding these disparities, notable areas of alignment exist between India and Australia’s climate change policies. Both nations recognise the imperatives of transitioning toward low-carbon economies and have articulated ambitious targets for renewable energy expansion. India’s expertise in solar energy technologies dovetails with Australia’s vast solar resources, furnishing fertile ground for collaboration in research and development endeavours. Additionally, both countries share convergent interests in adaptation measures, particularly within agriculture and water resource management sectors, where climate-induced vagaries present acute challenges.
Further, the horizon remains ripe with opportunities for collaboration between India and Australia to combat climate change. Both nations stand to accrue substantial benefits from sharing knowledge, technology, and best practices across domains such as renewable energy, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture. India’s prowess in implementing large-scale renewable energy projects holds invaluable lessons for Australia’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. At the same time, Australia’s expertise in water management and disaster resilience can enrich India’s efforts to address climate vulnerabilities. India and Australia have set up a task force on solar that aims to provide both governments with advice on solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment and supply chains. Too, both countries have set up the Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce to accelerate research in Green Hydrogen.
Similarly, bilateral partnerships and joint research initiatives can serve as conduits for facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity building, laying the groundwork for enduring collaboration on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The opening of the Australia-India Centre for Energy (AICE) to increase R&D cooperation between both partners strengthens these efforts.
As a step forward, both countries should explore industry-specific collaboration and share lessons learned. There are specific sectors like climate-smart agriculture, climate-smart mobility, and carbon markets that India and Australia should focus on to build further synergies, says Gayathri Rajagopal, a senior consultant of Carbon Friendly, which is a pioneer organisation in developing nature-based carbon credits. In her opinion, India’s carbon market is still in a nascent stage in sectors like Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use Change, a sector according to the IPCC 6th assessment report, contributes on average 13-21% of the global total anthropogenic GHG emissions. Building cooperation at the government and business level in these sectors can elevate India and Australia’s dream of a green economy and strengthen the relationship for the future.
Another cooperation opportunity lies in trilateral efforts, especially in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. For instance, Australia considers the Pacific Islands as part of its immediate neighbourhood and contributes significantly to their lives and economies and India, with a large diaspora in the region, provides much goodwill. Australia will contribute at least $350 million in climate infrastructure for the region, as part of the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership. India through its Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) initiatives aims to build sustainable relationships in various issues of significance to the Pacific islands such as climate change, clean energy, food security, and reform of the United Nations. In the third FIPIC summit, PM Modi echoed for closer relationships with Pacific Island Countries as part of uniting the voices under the banner of the Global South. Combining Australia’s regional presence and economic thrust with India’s leadership and goodwill, both countries can provide a positive platform for promoting climate action.
In the recently concluded Australia-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, ministers from both countries welcomed closer engagement between Australia and India on Pacific priorities in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the 2050 Strategy’s implementation plan, including climate change and economic development in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the leaders pledged to continue working together through the trilateral Australia-India-France and Australia-India-Indonesia groups to address shared problems, exchange ideas, and hold open discussions on matters including environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and maritime security.
In addition, as India and Australia continue to strengthen maritime security cooperation, it is essential to consider the impact of climate change on the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and increased frequency and intensity of weather events. These environmental changes can have significant implications for the maritime security of both nations.
Therefore, it is essential to include climate change in the discussion on India-Australia maritime security cooperation. This will help the two nations address sporadic incidents in the Indian Ocean caused by climate change. By collaborating on climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, India and Australia can minimise the risks and impacts of these events, enhance their maritime security, and protect the lives and livelihoods of their citizens.
Increasing climate change exchanges in dialogue between India and Australia not only adds an additional push to their partnership but also injects a sense of purpose and urgency to their collaboration. Such partnering sends a powerful message to the international community that these two dynamic nations are united in their resolve to confront shared challenges and build a sustainable future for generations to come. Such collaboration holds profound implications for achieving national climate objectives and for making substantive contributions to global endeavours aimed at mitigating climate change and crafting a sustainable future for generations to come.
Authors
Varun Mohan is a Visiting Researcher at the University of Queensland and a PhD student at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India.
Dr Prakash Pannerselvam is an assistant professor at the International Strategic & Security Studies Programme at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, India.