India’s Northeast: Where Global Partnerships Fuel the Net-Zero Vision

India’s pledge at COP26 to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 finds one of its strongest expressions in the country’s Northeast — a region rich in forests, rivers, and biodiversity, yet marked by fragile ecosystems and limited infrastructure. Today, this landscape is becoming a testing ground for India’s green transition, powered not just by national policy but by an unprecedented wave of global partnerships. From Japan’s sustainable agriculture projects to U.S.-led forestry initiatives and European investments in clean energy, the Northeast is emerging as a pivotal hub in India’s journey toward a low-carbon future.

sustainable infrastructure in Northeast India

New Delhi, December 8, 2025

When India pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 at COP26, few regions embodied that ambition as vividly as the country’s Northeast. Blessed with rich forests, rivers, and biodiversity, the eight Northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim — hold immense promise as ecological powerhouses for India’s green future.

Yet, this potential coexists with sensitive ecosystems, limited industrial infrastructure, and connectivity challenges. The region’s story of climate transition is not just shaped by national policy but also by global collaborations — from Japan’s sustainable agriculture projects to U.S.-funded forestry programs and European-backed renewable energy initiatives — each reinforcing India’s broader net-zero roadmap.

The Net-Zero Roadmap and the Northeastern Promise

India’s commitment to net-zero rests on five major goals:

• Achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity

• Meeting 50% of electricity demand from renewables

• Cutting carbon emissions by one billion tonnes

• Reducing carbon intensity by 45%

• Achieving net-zero by 2070

For the Northeast, these national targets translate into regional goals — sustainable livelihoods, forest conservation, and energy independence. The region’s 65% forest cover and 58,000 MW of hydropower potential make it central to India’s low-carbon growth.

Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Declaration 2047, which aims for net-zero emissions two decades ahead of India’s national goal, exemplifies this proactive approach. It integrates the principles of green economy, clean energy, and community-based conservation, setting a precedent for climate governance in other Northeastern states.

Japan: Driving Green Growth through the Act East Forum

Japan has been one of India’s most consistent partners in fostering sustainable development in the Northeast. Through the India-Japan Act East Forum (AEF), established in 2017, Tokyo has aligned its development cooperation with low-carbon and eco-sensitive projects.

Initiatives such as the “Capacity Enhancement for Sustainable Agriculture and Irrigation Development in Mizoram” and “Strengthening Bamboo Value Chain in the North East” address soil health, water efficiency, and bamboo-based industries — vital for climate resilience and green livelihoods.

At the 7th AEF meeting (2024), Japan announced commitments worth ¥385 billion (₹22,000 crore) for sectors including infrastructure, forest management, and rural connectivity — each indirectly reducing carbon emissions through better logistics and greener transport.

The Numaligarh bamboo-based bio-refinery in Assam — partly modeled on Japanese clean-tech — will be India’s first bio-refinery, producing 60 million litres of bio-ethanol annually and contributing to India’s clean fuel transition.

United States: Expanding Carbon Sinks through the TOFI Programme

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is focusing on one of the Northeast’s strongest natural assets — its forests. The Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) program, with a $25 million investment, covers seven states including Assam and aims to expand tree cover across 2.8 million hectares.

This initiative could sequester 420 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent, directly contributing to India’s net-zero goals. In Assam, TOFI supports agro-forestry and farm-based plantation models, helping farmers balance economic growth with climate stewardship.

A state-of-the-art nursery in Jorhat, producing over one million seedlings annually, highlights how local communities are being empowered to participate in global climate action.

Europe’s Role: Innovation and Green Finance

Both the United Kingdom and Germany are deepening their engagement in India’s Northeast through green technology and finance.

The India-UK Net-Zero Innovation Virtual Centre (2023) promotes collaboration in decarbonization, green hydrogen, and sustainable mobility. “Living labs” are being developed to test technologies that can reduce industrial carbon emissions by up to 80%.

Germany, through institutions like KfW and DEG, is directing up to $1 billion toward renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and skills development. This financing pipeline supports micro-hydro, solar rooftops, and off-grid renewables — crucial for remote regions in Meghalaya and Sikkim.

UNDP and Multilateral Banks: Building Climate-Ready Institutions

Beyond bilateral cooperation, multilateral agencies are helping strengthen climate governance and institutional capacity.

The UNDP North East Cell, in partnership with NITI Aayog and MDoNER, has developed the North Eastern Region District SDG Index 2023–24. The index shows that 85% of districts are now “front runners” in sustainable development — up from 62% in 2021 — particularly advancing SDG 7 (Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Projects like climate-resilient livelihoods in flood-prone Assam, community disaster preparedness in Nagaland, and climate-smart entrepreneurship in Manipur demonstrate how global support is being localized to create a net-zero-ready ecosystem.

The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) are financing green urban infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture, including the Agartala Urban Development Project and Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) — both contributing to emission reductions and sustainable productivity.

Beyond the Horizon: Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite progress, challenges persist — forest degradation, flash floods, and limited renewable infrastructure continue to slow the green transition. High logistics costs and the absence of region-specific carbon accounting frameworks also hinder investment.

Yet, the momentum is undeniable. The Northeast is emerging as India’s climate innovation corridor, where bamboo-based industries, hydropower, and solar projects are interlinked to boost both community livelihoods and carbon reduction.

As India marches toward its net-zero target by 2070, the Northeast will play a pivotal role — not just as a geographical region, but as a symbol of collaborative climate leadership. Here, sustainability is no longer an abstract ideal; it’s being built one bamboo stalk, one micro-grid, and one forest nursery at a time.