- Over the weekend, US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all met for the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit. The group, representing 24% of the global population and 34% of GDP in 2022, has become an important informal alliance structure and represents continued US efforts for a “pivot to Asia.”
- The Wilmington Declaration, released on September 21st, strongly features climate and clean energy action. Additionally, two separate bilateral US-India statements were put forward the same day: a roadmap for US-India clean energy supply chains, and a joint fact sheet on US-India expansion of a “Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
- We welcome these important announcements on trans Indo-Pacific cooperation, which continue to show how the linking of climate, foreign and economic policy, and national security can further both US geopolitical and global climate interests including in the Indo-Pacific.
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Just ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week, the Quad convened in Wilmington, Delaware. The Wilmington Declaration covers strategic initiatives on: health security; humanitarian assistance; maritime security; infrastructure; critical and emerging technologies; cyber; space; investment; people-to-people initiatives; and of course, climate and clean energy.
On climate and clean energy, the Declaration emphasizes the “significant benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy for our people, our planet, and our shared prosperity.” It calls for aligning policies to strengthen cooperation to build “diversified clean energy supply chains.” — an essential step in reducing global dependence on fossil fuels. With $175 million in combined funding across the Indo-Pacific from Australia, India and Japan, and commitments from the US to leverage the Development Finance Corporation to “continue to seek opportunities to mobilize private capital” for climate projects, the Declaration signals concrete actions for the Quad to take. These commitments are welcome, and leaders should offer more financing to meet the challenges presented by climate change in the Indo-Pacific. Doing so will strengthen the Quad’s standing in the region, especially given Australia is bidding to host COP31 alongside other Pacific nations.
Additionally, a “focused Quad effort to boost energy efficiency” is encouraging. The US’s initial $1.25 million in “technical assistance” on energy efficiency is a step in the right direction, although much more will be needed in order to meet the agreed upon COP28 target of 4% annual energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Separately, the US-India joint fact sheet mentions both the recent meeting of the 2022-established Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) and an enhanced cooperation on “climate-smart agriculture” showing the further strengthening of bilateral climate cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies.
The Roadmap for U.S.-India Initiative to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains represents a new expansion of bilateral technical, financial, and policy measures to “expand complementary U.S. and Indian manufacturing capacity for clean energy technologies and components.” More than just another bilateral agreement, it aims to boost both U.S. and Indian manufacturing while significantly scaling up cooperation in the Global South, with a particular focus on partnerships in Africa. Additionally, the Initiative seeks to unlock $1 billion in new multilateral finance through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) catalyzing investments in key clean technologies, including solar, wind, and batteries – key to driving the global clean energy transition.
As the US deepens its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and the Global South more broadly, it is vital ambitious climate action remains central to its strategy. This past weekend’s announcements do just that, aligning US geopolitical interests and global climate goals. Building on these developments through continued and expanded coordination, particularly in the areas of international climate finance, climate security, and clean energy will be key to sustaining momentum and strengthening international cooperation.
Quotes
Kaysie Brown, Associate Director at E3G:
“Centralizing climate cooperation throughout the Quad’s strategy demonstrates how climate change is a geopolitical driver in its own right.”
Travis Brubaker, Senior Policy Advisor at E3G:
“These announcements give further proof to the idea that US strategy with India, the Quad and the Global South can and should be built on strong climate action.”
Madhura Joshi, Senior Associate at E3G:
“The Bilateral US-India relationship has grown in both size and global importance. Centering this partnership on clean energy, finance, development, and climate helps deepen cooperation and accelerate action.”
– ENDS –
Available for comment
Travis Brubaker, E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (US Climate Foreign Policy)
m: +1(202)-870-4350 e: travis.brubaker@e3g.org
Madhura Joshi, E3G Senior Associate, (India’s energy transition)
e: madhura.joshi@e3g.org
Notes to Editors
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