After meeting the U.S. President Barak Obama in New Delhi on January 25, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will strengthen its efforts towards the achievement of ambitious climate and clean energy goals.

Prime Minister Modi agreed to expand India's current solar energy program to reach 100 gigawatts of power by 2022. The U.S. will provide financial support and technological assistance to help India achieve this goal. In addition to clean energy, the Indian Prime Minister agreed to keep working on a phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons, refrigerants that are potent greenhouse gas chemicals in the atmosphere. The two countries will also enhance bilateral climate change cooperation and work together this year to achieve a successful and ambitious agreement in Paris.

Even if India declined to commit to emission reduction targets, as China did in last year's agreement with the U.S., the meeting can be considered a promising step for the Asian country towards joining an international deal on climate change.

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