"President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have launched what the White House is calling a green partnership, affirming the countries' commitment to combating climate change and ensuring energy security and clean energy." The hope is to create more jobs, investment and growth for each country through this partnership - while also combating climate change, of course. As Obama also just announced his plans to attend the Copenhagen talks on December 9, this may mark the beginning of the White House efforts at green energy and environmental conservation policy shifts, especially since it's looking like health care is going to squeeze through.

Of course, as the BBC reported yesterday, it doesn't always mean much when an industrialized wealthy countries make promises to the majority world (aka developing) in regards to climate change. Prime Minister Singh's visit certainly indicates the rising importance of Indian diplomatic relations with the United States. Here's hoping that the elevation of India's significance in the global landscape translates to changes in more ways than just having purple flowers and AR Rahman perform for the first State Dinner at the Obama White House.