India's rapid economic growth, coupled with population growth, urbanisation and industrialisation, has placed increased pressure on natural resources and caused environmental degradation. To assist the Indian Government in facing these challenges, German development cooperation is helping to improve urban habitats and industrial development, and enhance the management of natural resources.

Sustainable Habitat and Industrial Development
The lack of adequate environmental infrastructure and the deteriorating quality of environments in the large urban centres is creating vulnerability. The risks caused by industrial pollution are a major concern.

GTZ supports the commitment of the Government of India to find solutions to major environmental issues. To implement environmental laws, there is a need for capacity development among the local authorities, the industrial sector and other stakeholders. The strategic objective is to ensure sustainability by shifting the focus of environmental activities. Instead of reactive measures in the face of acute environmental damage, proactive strategies for sustainability should be pursued. In this context, technical cooperation is guided by the concept of ecological structural change. Its aims to optimise the use of natural resources by decoupling their consumption from economic growth.

Natural Resource Management
The unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and their accelerated degradation pose a direct threat to the natural products that sustain many livelihoods and which are important for sustainable development. At the same time, the emerging challenges of climate change could irreversibly alter the resource regimes around the country. This would put further stress on environmental resources, posing a new challenge, especially to national food security.

Indo-German development cooperation in the area of natural resource management aims to enhance the environmental resource base using innovative pro-poor approaches, and to address the risks posed by climate change. Germany is supporting the policies of the Government of India in this sector by strengthening India's own development efforts to implement its policies, achieve the Millennium Development Goals and meet its commitments to international environmental conventions.