India–Germany Climate and Energy Journalism Programme

 A solar park in Bhadla, Rajasthan. Pic: Roli Srivastava

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and the consequences of climate change, India and Germany are strengthening their climate partnership by focusing on green technology, skilled workers, and critical minerals. In January 2026, German Chancellor Merz will visit India to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Clean Energy Wire and The Migration Story, in collaboration with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, invite journalists based in India and Germany to join our climate and energy journalism programme. Fourteen journalists, seven each from India and Germany, will receive online training and insights into Indian-German climate policy and partnerships, as well as the opportunity to receive a cross-border reporting grant to report for their own media in collaboration with someone from the other country.

Participants in the programme will learn about:

• Green technologies and industrial policy

•  Energy shifts and gender

• Green skills, labour migration and workforce needs

• Trade and EU–India policy links, including the postponed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

All training sessions will be held online at the end of February and will be accessible exclusively to the cohort.

After completing  the programme, the journalists will get the chance to collaborate across borders and report on a story with a cohort partner and receive a grant of €1400.

Please read the FAQs carefully and make sure to apply by 22 January.

To apply click here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are eligible?

Who is eligible for this programme?

Journalists based in Germany or India with a minimum of five years of professional experience in journalism.

In order to apply, journalists need to provide:

• Two recent work examples published in independent media on climate topics, ideally with some connection to the topic of energy shifts, migration, trade, green tech or politics. 

•  A letter of intent from an editor from an established media outlet committing to publication of stories resulting from this cohort, specifically on India – German climate collaboration. Freelancers need to include a letter from an outlet that has agreed to publish their reporting. Please note that you are only eligible for a cross-border grant if you include a letter of intent with your application.

What language will be spoken?

Communication about and within the programme will be in English, so we expect journalists to be comfortable in this language. Publications resulting from the programme can be in any language.

How many journalists will be selected?

We will select 14 journalists for the cohort, seven based in India and seven based in Germany.

What do I get if I get selected for the programme?

You will receive four online days of training (two 1,5 hour sessions per day)  on India-German climate relations, just transition, green technology, EU policies, green skills and labour migration and more. The aim of these trainings is to provide journalists with story ideas, new contacts and potential sources.

If you attended at last three of the training days, you will be eligible to enter a pitch for a cross-border story with someone else from the cohort. If your pitch is up to the standards of the organisers, both team members will receive €700 net for their reporting, amounting to a total of €1400 per team.

What time commitment is expected?

If you sign up for the programme we expect you to take part in all four training days which will take place on:

20 February

24 February

25 February

27 February

Per day there will be two sessions, so eight in total:

Session 1: 09.30 – 11.00 am CET / 14.00 – 15.30 IST

Session 2: 11.30 – 13.00 CET / 16.00 – 17.30 IST

When will a final programme for the training days be done?

We will share a final version of the programme with all the journalists in the cohort latest by 10 February. 

What are the deadlines?

Journalists have until 22 January 17.00 CET/21.30 IST to send in their application. You will find out latest by 4 February whether or not you have been selected.

Who is organising this programme?

Clean Energy Wire in collaboration with Indian newsroom The Migration Story, with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Other questions?

Please contact Ekin Deniz Hoş via event@cleanenergywire.org