India and Germany are holding the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum in New Delhi today, September 1, 2026. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and German Minister Carsten Schneider are co-chairing the event under the theme “Together For More Resilience.”
New Delhi is hosting a major bilateral environmental dialogue today. India and Germany are holding the 4th Indo-German Environment Forum on September 1, 2026, bringing together policymakers, business leaders, and researchers from both countries. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav is co-chairing the forum alongside German Federal Minister for Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider.
The forum forms part of a four-day visit to India by Minister Schneider. This year’s edition carries the theme “Together For More Resilience,” reflecting both countries’ shared focus on building more sustainable, climate-resilient economies. Around 200 participants are taking part in today’s discussions.
Quick Facts: 4th Indo-German Environment Forum
- Date: September 1, 2026
- Venue: New Delhi
- Theme: “Together For More Resilience”
- Co-chairs: Bhupender Yadav (India), Carsten Schneider (Germany)
- Expected participants: Around 200
- Forum history: Held regularly since 2008
- Organised by: MoEFCC (India) and BMUKN (Germany), with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Indian industry associations
- German companies in India: Around 2,000 subsidiaries, roughly 700 producing locally
- Schneider’s visit duration: Four days
What Is the Indo-German Environment Forum?
The Indo-German Environment Forum stands as the highest-level bilateral platform between India and Germany for discussions on environmental policy. Officials have held the forum regularly since 2008, making it a long-running fixture in the two countries’ cooperative relationship.
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) jointly organise the event. In addition, the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and several Indian industry associations also help coordinate the forum, giving it a strong business and industry dimension alongside its policy focus.
Who Is Attending the 2026 Forum?
Bhupender Yadav and Carsten Schneider are co-chairing this year’s forum, leading discussions between the two governments. Schneider’s participation forms part of a broader four-day visit to India, during which he is also meeting other Indian government representatives to discuss environmental and climate issues more broadly.
Beyond the two ministers, the forum has drawn a wide mix of participants. According to organisers, around 200 people are attending, including policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and other experts from both nations. This diverse turnout reflects the forum’s dual focus on policy dialogue and practical business collaboration.
Key Discussion Topics at This Year’s Forum
Organisers have structured this year’s forum around several thematic sessions, each addressing a specific area of environmental cooperation. Together, these sessions are covering a broad cross-section of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
The main topics include:
- Low-carbon industries — reducing emissions across key industrial sectors
- Biodiversity in wetlands, mountains, and forest landscapes — protecting ecologically sensitive regions
- Resource efficiency and circular economy — treating waste reduction and reuse as a viable business model
- Sustainable finance — channelling investment toward greener projects and technologies
- Green skills and investment mobilisation — building the workforce and capital needed for a sustainable transition
4th Indo-German Environment Forum: Key Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Forum edition | 4th |
| Date | September 1, 2026 |
| Forum running since | 2008 |
| Expected participants | ~200 |
| German companies with Indian subsidiaries | ~2,000 |
| German companies producing locally in India | ~700 |
| Schneider’s total visit length | 4 days |
Why This Forum Matters for India-Germany Ties
This forum represents more than a routine diplomatic meeting. It reflects a deep and growing economic relationship between the two countries, particularly in clean technology and sustainability. India currently ranks as the world’s largest location for German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK), underlining just how significant the Indian market has become for German businesses.
That significance shows up in hard numbers too. Around 2,000 German companies now operate subsidiaries in India, and roughly 700 of them produce goods locally within the country. Given this scale, discussions at the forum are likely to carry real weight for ongoing and future investment decisions, not just symbolic diplomatic value.
A Platform Built on Practical Cooperation
Since its founding in 2008, the Indo-German Environment Forum has consistently aimed to turn policy dialogue into concrete outcomes. Earlier editions, for instance, led to the creation of permanent bilateral working groups covering water management, waste management, and urban development, each involving relevant ministries and stakeholders from both countries.
This year’s forum appears set to follow a similar pattern. By covering topics like circular economy business models, green skills development, and investment mobilisation, organisers are clearly aiming for outcomes that extend well beyond the meeting itself, potentially shaping future joint projects and business partnerships between India and Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Forum and Its Participants
The forum is being held in New Delhi on September 1, 2026.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and German Federal Minister for Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider are co-chairing the event.
This year’s theme is “Together For More Resilience,” reflecting both countries’ focus on building climate-resilient, sustainable economies.
Organisers expect around 200 participants, including policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and other experts from India and Germany.
The forum has been held regularly since 2008, making this year’s edition its fourth formal iteration under the current structure.
Topics, Purpose, and Broader Significance
Discussion topics include low-carbon industries, biodiversity in wetlands, mountains, and forests, resource efficiency and the circular economy, sustainable finance, green skills, and investment mobilisation.
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN) jointly organise the forum, along with the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Indian industry associations.
Around 2,000 German companies currently operate subsidiaries in India, with roughly 700 producing locally. India also ranks as the world’s largest location for German Chambers of Commerce Abroad, making environmental and business cooperation through this forum highly relevant to ongoing investment.
No. The forum forms part of a broader four-day visit to India, during which Schneider is also meeting other Indian government representatives to discuss environmental and climate issues.
Yes. Earlier editions of the forum led to the creation of permanent bilateral working groups on water management, waste management, and urban development, showing a track record of translating discussions into practical cooperation.
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