India stressed on Brazil’s twin focus on multilateralism and implementation, and called on the global community to “together” ensure “that the next decade of climate action is defined not only by targets but by implementation, resilience, and shared responsibility based on mutual trust and fairness.”
The national statement, delivered by India’s Ambassador to Brazil Dinesh Bhatia, reiterated India’s commitment “towards preserving the and safeguarding the architecture of the Paris Agreement built on the foundation of the Convention” while calling on developed countries to show greater ambition to reduce emissions faster and support developing countries to take climate action. The national statement also detailed India’s climate actions and measures to transition to a low-carbon development pathway.
The two-day Leaders’ Climate Summit, held ahead of the two-week UN talks on account of logistical limitations, served as an unofficial start to COP30.
Detailing India’s contributions to the global effort, the statement highlighted the growing share of clean or non-fossil fuels in the electricity mix, currently nearly 51 per cent, the reduction of the emissions intensity of its economy, and the expansion of forest and tree cover. As well as highlighting its commitment to collective, collaborative and co-operative action anchored in multilateralism demonstrated through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, partnering with France.
At the same time, India pointed out that “global ambition remains inadequate… Many nation’s NDCs fall short”. India said that the developing countries continue to take decisive climate action while developed countries that have disproportionately appropriated the global carbon budget need to do more. Developed countries “must accelerate emission reductions and deliver the promised, adequate, and predictable support,” said Bhatia.The statement calls on developed countries to step up efforts to reduce emissions. “Given the rapid depletion of the meagre remaining carbon budget, developed countries must reach net zero much sooner than they have declared and invest substantially in reaching net-negative emissions,” said Bhatia, delivering the national statement for India.Since the Paris climate summit, COP21, a leaders’ summit has become a near regular feature of the annual UN climate talks. The summit attended by heads of state and governments is an innovation that is intended to provide a high-level political momentum and direction to the fortnight of climate talks. It is also a moment for leaders to highlight initiatives, collaborations and future plans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attended several of the leaders’ climate summits, including COP21 (Paris), COP26 (Glasgow), and COP28 (Dubai). On several other occasions, India has been represented at the leaders’ summit by the environment minister. There have been occasions, such as COP29 in Baku where India did not participate in the leaders’ summit. This would be the first time that the ambassador as India’s highest government representative in the host country delivered the statement, on behalf of the Prime Minister and government, at the Leaders’ Climate Summit.