Diplomacy in the 21st century promises to take on a very different character and content from what has been practised in the past. Issues like energy security and climate change would have an important part in determining tensions as well as modes of cooperation among countries. This was clear in the joint statement at the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s successful visit to the United States, where both countries agreed to ?a new and enhanced strategic partnership on energy security, clean energy, and climate change? while highlighting ?the critical importance of increasing energy access, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving resilience in the face of climate change?.

The joint statement also referred to ?a new program to scale up renewable energy integration into India?s power grid? and ?accelerate the deployment of cost-effective, super-efficient appliances; and the formation of a new Clean Energy Finance Forum to promote investment and trade in clean energy projects?. Cooperation in the field of energy, particularly in the development and spread of clean and renewable energy, is very much in India?s interests. There are very few countries, if any, which face such a huge challenge in the security of energy supply as India. A detailed modelling of India?s energy future by TERI reveals that India would be importing 900 million tonnes of coal annually by 2031-32 if India were to remain on a business-as-usual path of development and energy use.

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