The Swiss Cooperation has been active in India since 1958. Since 2011, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in India focuses specifically on climate change and environment. The aim is to support India’s transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient development pathway.
SDC's work in India is aligned with Switzerland’s Foreign Policy Strategy and International Cooperation Strategy. It contributes to the Global Programme Climate Change and Environment and to SDC’s engagement in South Asia. The projects in India leverage on Switzerland’s strong and recognized expertise to co-develop solutions that are aligned with India’s climate goals and international commitments. SDC works with the Indian government authorities, Swiss and Indian experts, universities and research institutes, private sector, think-tanks, non-government organizations and international organizations.
Recent and on-going projects cover climate change mitigation (energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings, low-carbon cement, reforestation, just transition), climate change adaptation (disaster risk management in the Himalayas, springshed management, solar irrigation, urban climate action plans), and environment (air pollution, integrated natural resources management). In addition, Switzerland occasionally provides humanitarian and technical assistance to affected populations (e.g Cyclone Amphan in 2020; Covid in 2021; floods in Assam in 2022; Glacial Outburst Flood in Sikkim in 2023).
Through its cooperation projects, SDC is contributing towards the implementation of the Government of India’s flagship climate change programmes and schemes such as the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, Smart Cities Mission, National Programme on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, implementation of the State Action Plans on Climate Change, Crop Insurance Scheme, and National Clean Air Programme among others.
The projects open-up important opportunities for scientific and economic collaboration between India and Switzerland that can be replicated in other parts of the world.
