New Delhi: The European Union and India are deepening cooperation in clean energy, climate action, and industrial decarbonisation through initiatives like the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA), launched in India ahead of COP30 to help industries adopt green technologies and cut emissions, Bartosz Przywara, Counsellor for Energy, Climate Action and Environment, European Union delegation to India told ANI today.

 

“We have very strong cooperation in the area of clean energy and climate transition,” Przywara told ANI in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) event in New Delhi.

 

The event marked an opening of the new implementation phase of the project for India, Przywara said.

 

“It’s basically a project which facilitates the Indian industry especially those sectors which are hard to abate to adopt new technology, get financing, and get into this path of decarbonisation. And we as the European Union, of course, we are supporting this path.”

 

He said the EU’s support aligns with India’s broader sustainability agenda.

 

“We are doing something quite similar here in India, having a lot of projects and activities together with the Indian government and business associations, which aim basically at the same purpose,” he said, calling the collaboration “very successful.”

 

A key focus of the EU-India partnership, Przywara said, is proving that economic growth and emissions reduction can go hand in hand.

 

“There is a clear decoupling it is possible technologically and economically to grow while at the same time cutting emissions,” he said. Citing the EU’s record, he added,

 

“In the European Union, we have been growing by 68% over this period from 1990 to 2023, and at the same time we managed to cut our emissions by 38%. So India can do it as well.”

 

Przywara highlighted the EU-India Clean Energy and Climate Partnership, which has been active since 2016.

 

“It has been existing for the last nine years. We have done literally hundreds of events and activities, talking to the Indian government, exchanging best practices, and helping in establishing legislation in the area of green transition,” he said.

 

He also pointed to other initiatives such as the EU-India Climate Dialogue, where both sides discuss pathways to decarbonisation and carbon market development.

 

“The European Union has the oldest and biggest carbon market in the world–we have 20 years of experience running it, and now we are very happy to share those experiences with India,” Przywara said.

 

On industrial decarbonisation, he mentioned EU support for the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LID-IT), an initiative co-founded by India and Sweden.

 

“It already involves 18 different countries and multiple industrial entities all around the world,” he said, describing it as a key multilateral effort to cut industrial emissions.

 

Przywara said that both sides are expected to further strengthen ties following recent high-level engagements.

 

“At the beginning of this year, the College of Commissioners visited India and held very positive discussions with the Indian government. Recently, the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Policy issued a joint communication about the new EU-India agenda for the future,” he said.

 

He added that both partners are optimistic about a potential summit soon to “confirm and elevate” cooperation.

 

“We really have a lot to do together in the area of clean energy, climate, decarbonisation, and green transition,” Przywara said.

 

During the same event, Sumit Gupta, Managing Director and Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) told ANI today that India is well-positioned to lead the global green transition due to its low cost of renewable energy, strong industrial base, and growing innovation ecosystem.

 

“We’ve outlined the key challenges that these projects face and what needs to come together to actually make the transition happen whether it’s innovative financing, access to capital, technology innovations aligned with market needs, or effective project execution,” Gupta said during an exclusive interview with ANI on the sidelines of the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) event.

 

“The question is how to get the right ecosystem of partners to execute these projects from paper to plant.”

 

He highlighted that India’s low cost of renewable energy offers a major advantage. “We have one of the lowest costs of energy in the world, which is a key enabler of the green transition,” he noted.

 

Ofcom is facing calls for an “outright ban” on “absurd” mid-contract price hikes after the Government separately asked the regulator to revisit its rules on the practice.

The calls follow O2 unexpectedly announcing it was raising prices by £2.50 a month for existing customers.

On Monday, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall wrote an open letter to Ofcom bosses asking them to review mid-contract price rises again.

She wrote: “As we discussed when we met earlier this month, driving down inflationary costs and protecting consumers are vitally important for this government.

“As such, I welcome both the action you took in January to increase transparency on how in-contract prices are presented in new contracts, and your statement yesterday expressing disappointment with O2’s price rises.

“I strongly agree they are against the spirit of your previous changes on pricing, and all the more disappointing given the current pressures on consumers.”

She added: “Nevertheless, I believe we need to go further, faster. I am keen that we look at in-contract price rises again.”

Ofcom has been given until November 7 to respond to Ms Kendall’s letter.

Ofcom said: “We share the Government’s concern that customers who face price rises must be treated fairly by mobile providers and they are empowered to exercise their right to switch penalty-free if they didn’t agree to them upfront.

“We will respond to the Secretary of State’s specific queries shortly.”

O2 said in a statement: “We appreciate that price changes are never welcome, but we have been fully transparent with our customers about this change, writing directly to them and providing the right to exit without penalty if they wish.”

Ofcom introduced new rules in January to crack down on phone and broadband providers increasing prices in the middle of a contract without warning.

But last week, O2 announced it would be raising its monthly prices by more than originally promised.

It was able to do this because the increase was not linked to inflation, and it has given customers 30 days to leave without penalty providing they continue to pay off the cost of their device.

O2 said it has not gone against the regulation and Ofcom’s rules do not stop providers from raising prices.

The firm said: “A price increase equivalent to 8p per day is greatly outweighed by the £700 million we invest each year into our mobile network, with UK consumers benefitting from an extremely competitive market and some of the lowest prices compared to international peers.”

Alex Tofts, broadband spokesman from comparison site Broadband Genie, said: “What we’re seeing from O2 and price rises from other major providers is a direct result of crude regulation that has been poorly thought out, with its implications not given enough consideration.

“The only real way to protect customers is to outright ban these absurd mid-contract price hikes. Some providers already offer fixed prices, so why can’t those with the biggest profit margins do the same?

“We fully back the call for Ofcom to revisit these regulations. Until then, we urge all consumers to check whether they’re still in contract.

“To be fair to Ofcom, the broadband switching process has become much easier thanks to the One Touch Switch system. One-in-three households are currently free to switch, and with many providers offering competitive new-customer discounts, now could be the best opportunity to protect your budget before further price rises take effect.”