Green Tea Morning - Climate and Security in Indo-German Cooperation

Geopolitical tensions and climate action are increasingly intertwined, shaping national and international security in complex ways. India is already amongst the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Furthermore, the current war against Iran disrupting the key supply route of the Strait of Hormuz is the latest example of the risks associated with fossil dependence and volatile oil and gas prices. Billions of livelihoods are directly affected; economic stability and social resilience threatened across the globe. In India LNG is rationed, industries curtailed, and oil imports from Russia are picking up again. This has reinvigorated calls for energy independence, including through renewable energy.

Climate change and the actions required to address it, are increasingly shaping India’s development pathway. Frequent extreme weather events like heat waves, draughts, and coastal erosion threaten lives, put development gains at risk and can overwhelm governance systems. As such, climate change is amplifying existing vulnerabilities and tensions, underscoring the need for forward-looking strategies that integrate climate, energy, and food security considerations. Strengthening climate resilience, adaptive social protection and forward-looking risk management will be essential to safeguard inclusive growth, economic and strategic stability.

In the wake of Chancelor Friedrich Merz’ visit to India in January 2026, the German and Indian governments have strengthened their security cooperation as part of the bilateral agenda. At the same time, climate and energy remain strong pillars of the partnership. But how do both areas intersect? Is there scope for an approach of human security in the climate cooperation?

Against this backdrop, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Germanwatch invite you to discuss commonalities and differences in Indian and German discourses around the intersection of climate and security. The goal of this dialogue is to reflect on current cooperation frameworks and identify concrete entry points for a stronger climate and human security-oriented approach in bilateral policy. 
The discussion will take place in a confidential setting under Chatham House Rule to allow for open exchange.

Speakers:

• Dr. Steffen Koch & Dr. Holger Klitzing, AA
• Barbara Schäfer, BMZ
• Dr. Marcus Schroeder, BMUKN
• Prof. Miriam Prys-Hansen, GIGA 
• Tishya Khillare, CSDR India (tbc)
• Rixa Schwarz, Germanwatch 

The event will be held in English with no translation. 

We would be delighted to welcome you or a designated representative of your institution and kindly request you to register. 

Contact: speidel@boell.de

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

Please register in advance. Unfortunately, the number of seats for this event are limited.

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