India & EU to find solution to Marine Plastic Litter & Waste to Hydrogen

India and the European Union (EU) have launched two research projects to tackle the pollution caused by the littering of plastics in seas/oceans (marine plastic litter) and develop innovative solutions for converting the waste into green hydrogen. The joint total investment in the two projects by India and the EU will be Rs 391 crore or 41 million euros.

These initiatives have been launched under the India-Europe Union Trade and Technology Council. 

About the Marine Plastic Litter Project 

The Marine Plastic Litter Project will be funded by the Union Ministry of Earth Science and the European Union’s Horizon Europe.

The Ministry of Earth Science will invest Rs 90 crore, or 9.3 million euros, and Horizon Europe will invest Rs 115 crore, or 12 million euros.

Aim of the project

• To develop innovative technology and solutions to monitor, assess, and mitigate the cumulative impacts of various pollutants like microplastics, organic pollutants and heavy metals in the sea/ocean.

About the Waste to Green Hydrogen Project 

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the European Union’s Horizon Europe will fund the project.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will invest Rs 90 crore, or 9.3 million euros, and Horizon Europe will invest Rs 96 crore, or 10 million euros.

Aim of the Project 

• To develop efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly methods for green hydrogen production.
• The research will align with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission of India and the European Union’s Hydrogen Strategy.

About the India-EU  Trade and Technology Council

The India-European Union (EU) Trade and Technology Council was announced in April 2022 during European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to India.

It was launched in February 2023.

India was the second country in the world, after the United States, with which the EU has signed such an agreement.

The India-EU Trade and Technology Council has three working groups that focus on:

• Development of green and clean energy technologies,
• On strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity
• Creating resilient value chains, trade and investment. 

European Union 

The European Union is a group of 27 European countries.

It came into existence on 1 November 1993 when the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 came into force. 

Members: 27 countries.

Headquarters: Brussels(Belgium)