International Programs
Collaboration with India
In the context of the U.S.’s expanding relationship with India, EPA is seeking to engage its Indian partners to protect the environment in new and collaborative ways. Recent work includes implementation of pilot programs in the areas of drinking water quality and air quality management. Today, the Government of India and EPA are evaluating new ways to partner on governance issues and addressing the trans-boundary movement of e-waste into India.
EPA’s collaboration with India advances EPA’s six international priorities.
Explore our work in India:
Key Events
- July 2011: Secretary Clinton opened the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in India
- January 2011: EPA and the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
cooperated to deliver an Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Workshop workshop for Indian participants from both state and central government pollution control boards. The training took place at the Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute in the City of Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh.
- November 2010: President Obama’s visit to India highlighted the deepening economic ties between the United States and India
- June 2010: U.S.-India Joint Commission Meeting for Science and Technology Cooperation
- March 2010: New Delhi Methane-to-Markets Partnership Expo
- July 2009: Creation of U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue
Activities
Building Strong Institutions and Legal Structures:
More than 230 million people lack access to potable water in India.
EPA has engaged with India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to cooperate on building strong environmental institutional structures.
To achieve this this, EPA has supported MoEF in the creation of a new Central Government institution to address environmental notifications and violations.
Through a training workshop to State Pollution Control Boards in January 2011, EPA has also provided enforcement tools and concepts that can be applicable in the Indian context.
Combating Climate Change by Limiting Pollutants:
India is a charter member of the Global Methane Initiative. In March 2010, New Delhi was the host of the highly successful GMI (at that time, known as Methane to Markets) Partnership Expo, the world’s largest international forum for promoting methane recovery and use opportunities and technologies.
India currently participates in four of the five sectors of the GMI (agriculture, coal, landfills and oil & gas) and co-chairs tow of these sector subcommittees (agriculture and coal). Through the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), EPA has provided 11 grants for work in methane reduction activities in India and has worked closely with nodal Indian ministries to help facilitate new methane projects in all sectors in India.
Additional information on India’s activities under GMI
Improving Air Quality:
EPA has engaged with India to support science-based air pollution control strategies in Indian cities. With the cooperation of MoEF, the State of Maharashtra, the Municipality of Pune, as well as a number of other partners, EPA has helped demonstrate technologies which can assist decision makers in developing policies aimed at reducing air pollution.
These technologies include the tools and concepts used in air quality management, as well as demonstrations for reducing vehicle emissions from diesel buses and two-cycle engines.
Expanding Access to Clean Water:
Increased congestion and dependence on vehicles in India lead to reduced air quality.
EPA has engaged with India to improve drinking water quality monitoring. EPA has also partnered with the Indian government to demonstrate risk assessment and management tools to make drinking water safer for human consumption.
Reduce Exposure to Toxic Chemicals:
EPA has recently engaged in discussions with MoEF on a new initiative in India which addresses the assessment and remediation of polluted sites. This initiative is aligned with the Government of India’s efforts to establish a program for reducing environmental and health risks associated with these legacy sites.
Cleaning Up E-waste:
EPA and the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests are collaborating to address problems related to management and handling of used electronics. Learn More.
Key Partners
| Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) | Central Pollution Control Board |
| National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) | Environmental Law Institute (ELI) |
Agreements
- April 2007: EPA-MoEF Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) (11 pp, 4.35 M, About PDF)
- October 2005: US-India Science and Technology Agreement
Learn More About India
Back to: Asia/Pacific Islands
Contacts
For additional information about EPA's work with India, contact:
| Pam Teel Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2650R) U.S. EPA 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20460 Email: teel.pam@epa.gov 202.564.6600 |