Of the major climate change related risks identified for India, the most significant ones include the likely variability in rainfall/monsoon patterns including water stress and low agricultural production, melting of glaciers of the Hindu Kush Himalayas with severe impact on Indo-Gangetic plains and sea level rise threatening existence of coastal communities together with increase in frequency and intensity of extreme events. All the above will adversely affect livelihoods, water and food security, and health and well being of the communities. 

The Global Programme on Climate Change is based on common interests and shared investments and costs between India and Switzerland in the area of climate change viz. climate change adaptation (including food security and sustainable agriculture), climate resilient development, energy efficiency and renewable. The programme aims at integration of disaster risk reduction in climate change adaptation. The initiative contributes to upscaling and mainstreaming of appropriate policies, capacities and access to financial and knowledge resources enabling people at grassroots level to improve their lives in a rapidly changing context. 

The strategic programme supports multi-stakeholder, inter-disciplinary and multi-level partnerships. One of the key aspects of engagement relates to linking grassroots voices/ experiences and lessons to policy debate and science together with knowledge sharing and south-south cooperation and exchange. 

The Global Programme envisages effective capitalization of experiences and lessons from the five decade long engagement of SDC in India in the area of development cooperation. 

 Climate Change Adaptation and Climate Resilient Development 

The overall goal of the climate change adaptation programme is to contribute to India adapting equitable, sustainable and climate sensitive/climate resilient growth path. 

 Energy Efficiency and Renewables 

The overall goal of this programme is to enhance the use and delivery of environment friendly and efficient energy solutions in rural areas, in the building sector, and in micro and small enterprises while furthering knowledge exchange of new technologies and innovative policies to benefit all stakeholders