Germany and India significantly intensified their cooperation in environmental and climate protection on September 2, 2026. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider and his Indian counterpart Bhupender Yadav opened the 4th German-Indian Environmental Forum in New Delhi and signed a declaration of intent for the protection of wetlands as well as for deepened cooperation on climate adaptation. The agreement focuses on the joint development of markets for circular economy and environmental technologies – with direct implications for the building materials industry in both countries.

What does the cooperation mean in concrete terms for building materials and CleanTech?

This year's Environmental Forum was held under the motto "Together For More Resilience" and focused on five priority areas: circular economy, biodiversity, climate protection and adaptation, CleanTech, and sustainable financing. For you as a processor, planner, or building materials dealer, it is particularly relevant that German companies are considered leaders in the CleanTech sector and India is experiencing a real boom in this sector.

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider emphasized:

"German companies are leaders in the CleanTech sector, which is experiencing a boom in India and provides things like affordable electricity or clean water there."

— Carsten Schneider, Federal Environment Minister

The cooperation aims to link ecological sustainability and long-term economic prosperity as well as energy security. For the building materials industry, this means: technologies for emission reduction, recycled building materials and climate-adapted materials are gaining importance in the Indian market – and German manufacturers can export their know-how.

What concrete measures are planned?

The signed declaration of intent encompasses several fields of action that are also relevant for building materials:

  • Partnership models involving the private sector for the protection of wetlands and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods
  • Joint research initiatives and scientific collaboration, for example in the development of digital monitoring and management technologies
  • Deepened technical exchange on climate adaptation, sharing successful approaches and learning from one another – for example in heat retrofitting of buildings or heat-resistant building materials
  • Development of joint markets in the field of circular economy and environmental technologies

The declaration of intent also underscores the commitment to international conventions on biodiversity and the protection and sustainable use of wetlands (CBD and Ramsar Conventions). India and Germany aim to jointly develop digital technologies for monitoring and managing wetlands – an area in which building materials for infrastructure and water construction are also in demand.

How does the German building materials industry benefit?

India is home to around 2,000 German companies with their own subsidiaries, of which approximately 700 companies produce locally. The German-Indian Environmental Forum is jointly organized by the environmental ministries of both countries together with the Asia Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Indian industry associations – a strong platform for exchange between business and politics.

For manufacturers of CO₂-neutral concrete, energy-efficient insulation materials or sustainable wood-based materials, the deepened cooperation opens up new export opportunities. India is increasingly focusing on climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development – areas in which German building material technologies offer competitive advantages.

CleanTech boom in India: Opportunities for German insulation and cement manufacturers

India's CleanTech sector is growing rapidly, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, water management, and energy-efficient construction. German manufacturers of mineral wool, wood fiber insulation or climate-optimized cements can position their solutions in a market seeking scalable, low-emission technologies.

Federal Environment Minister Schneider also made his inaugural visit to India as part of his trip. In addition to talks with his counterpart, he met with the Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Energy Minister Manohar Lal. In Alwar in the state of Rajasthan, he visited a project that restores and maintains forests and tree stocks. The program also included exchanges with representatives from associations, institutions, and businesses active in India.

Climate adaptation and resilience: What can Germany learn from India?

The deepened technical collaboration on climate adaptation also takes place against the backdrop of recent hot summers in Europe and their impacts in Germany. In India, climate resilience has long been a central issue – for example in the development of heat-resistant building materials, reflective roof coatings, or water-saving construction techniques.

For you as a planner or processor, this means: technologies and materials that have already been tested in India under extreme climatic conditions could also be relevant here for energy-efficient renovation and heat protection. The bilateral exchange makes it possible to adopt proven approaches and adapt them to Central European conditions.

How is business involved in the cooperation?

The German-Indian Environmental Forum is the highest-ranking bilateral format of both states in environmental policy and has taken place regularly since 2008. The involvement of business associations such as the Asia Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) as well as Indian industry associations ensures that agreements do not remain merely political declarations of intent, but translate into concrete projects and trade relationships.

Minister Schneider was accompanied by a business delegation that deliberately made contacts with Indian partners. For German building materials manufacturers – particularly in the areas of EPD-certified materials, Urban Mining and sustainable financing – this opens up concrete business opportunities.

Practical take-away: What can you do now?

If you are active as a manufacturer, dealer, or planner in the building materials sector, you should keep the German-Indian cooperation in mind. The following steps may be worthwhile:

  • Establish contacts with AHK India: The Chamber of Commerce in India is the world's largest location and supports German companies in market entry.
  • Review your CleanTech portfolio: Do you have products or services relevant to the Indian market – such as low-emission cements, circular insulation materials, or digital planning tools?
  • Consider climate adaptation in product development: Heat-resistant materials and water-saving construction techniques are becoming more important in both countries.
  • Use funding programs: Cooperation projects between German and Indian companies are often supported by both governments.

The cooperation shows: environmental and climate protection are not only an ecological necessity, but also an economic opportunity – especially for companies that focus on sustainable, circular, and climate-resilient building materials.