U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State Jennifer R. Littlejohn Visits Chennai to Promote U.S.-India Environmental Collaboration

Chennai, August 24: 
United States Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn visited Chennai on August 22 and 23 to engage with civic leaders, businesses, and academic institutions on U.S.-India cooperation in science, green technology, and climate resilience, including river restoration through the Ambassador’s Water Experts Program. 

Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn said, “U.S.-India collaboration in science and technology is crucial to solving our world’s greatest challenges, from protecting biodiversity to combatting the climate crisis. It’s also a key element of our bilateral relationshipunder the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). Chennai demonstrates the power of this collaboration! From new innovations in solar and green technologies to the Ambassador’s Water Experts Program (AWEP) that supports Chennai in its goal to green its waterways, together we can achieve prosperity and build resilient futures.”

(United States Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer R. Littlejohn (wearing beige color jacket in center), U.S. Consul General Chennai Chris Hodges, and other members of the U.S. delegation pose for a photograph with the IIT Madras Research Park team during a visit to the IITMRP campus in Chennai on Thursday, August 22.)

At U.S. solar technology company First Solar’s manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn engaged senior executives on solar energy technology and sustainability practices during a tour of the facility. At IIT Madras Research Park, she toured facilities dedicated to green technology and space startups. Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn also participated in a roundtable with green technology entrepreneurs to foster innovation and collaboration in environmental solutions ahead of a planned partnership between the U.S. Consulate and the IIT Madras Research Park to incubate and encourage green tech-driven innovation and ecosystems. At Anna University, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn took part in a roundtable with faculty, researchers, and scholars focused on leveraging climate modeling to strengthen local resilience strategies. 

During a meeting with Chennai Mayor R. Priya, Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn and Chennai Consul General Chris Hodges discussed the importance of freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, and wetlands, in mitigating and adapting to climate change. The discussion underscored the critical role of sustainable water management in urban planning and environmental stewardship. Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn emphasized the United States’ commitment to collaborating with Chennai through the Ambassador's Water Experts Program, which aims to support the city in adopting best practices for river restoration, leveraging sister city and other partnerships. 

Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn also met with river restoration and environmental civil society representatives and alumni of United States Department of State exchange programs to explore collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable practices.