The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of this century. It has a disproportionate impact on developing nations as it aggravates economic inequality and poverty. India has a long tradition of preserving nature and contributed actively in global climate change solutions since the beginning. It played a key role in setting an equitable agenda like the ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ at Rio de Janeiro, in 1992. Post the Paris Agreement, India has emerged as a global leader in climate diplomacy.
The recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) in November 2024 in Azerbaijan, has been criticised for missing the opportunity for a viable solution to combat global warming. The developing nations getting a commitment of meagre USD 300 billion annually by 2035 against the demand of USD 1.3 trillion annually was disappointing, especially when the same was not entirely from public finance.
India’s climate diplomacy has emerged as a key strategic doctrine of foreign policy which not only provides an important platform for international leadership and inspires excellence in domestic economic activities, but is indispensable for protecting its huge population and emerging economy. COP 30, being hosted by Belem, Brazil in 2025 will be an exceptional opportunity for a course correction as the world has already deviated from the trajectory to reach the 1.5 degree level. It is time India engaged a dedicated professional and institutional support system comprising the best of businesses, scientists, bureaucrats and diplomats for taking up various critical agendas and showcasing domestic achievements.
Climatic action
At COP30, all Parties are expected to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to UNFCCC. In NDCs, India has committed to reduce its emission intensity by 45% and achieve 50 % cumulative power capacity from non-fossil fuel by 2030 with a long-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070. India ranks among the top performers on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) through strong climate action like reducing the emissions intensity by 33–35% from 2005 levels and achieving 40% cumulative installed power capacity from green energy resources. India has an impressive target of 500 gigawatts (GW) capacity from renewable energy by 2030.
India has already showcased its leadership and diplomatic prowess in institutionalising the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). In addition to the traditional UN-centric COP model, India’s climate diplomacy is now exploring multilateral, triangular and bilateral formats to further its climate objectives.
Realigning with Paris commitments
One of the biggest challenges before COP 30 would be to recalibrate the aspirations of the developed and developing economies for fulfilling the obligations of climate funding and technology transfer in line with the Paris Agreement, hailed as a landmark agreement based on the premises of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC)’. Delays in setting higher reduction targets, mobilising climate funds and timely acceptance of the net-zero targets disregarding the historical cumulative emissions and developmental rights of the developing countries are mostly retrogressive moves. In the given scenario, the developing countries would collectively oppose any coercive approach of unilateral carbon border adjustment measures. The failure to honour the commitments undermines the success of the multilateral system.
Unified action of developing countries
New Delhi could be a strong voice for the Global South, comprising 88% of the world’s population having a difficult time aligning climate transition with economic development priorities. India’s vision of shaping the emerging order for the Global South – ‘having the largest stakes in the future’ goes well with the imminent need. Remarkable success in the fields of renewable energy, space, agriculture, telecommunication, transportation, and digital transformation coupled with a larger scientific institutional base enables India to assume a bigger role. As exemplified by the supply of life-saving vaccines to more than a hundred countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, India is expected to take the helm for balancing developmental needs with environmental responsibilities at the same time raising the bar for climate commitments.
Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity
This agenda is likely to gain significant traction in Belem. The agenda of sustainable agriculture and nature-based solutions may be debated for setting a global standard on ‘socio-bioeconomy’ for moving towards zero deforestation. India’s ‘BioE3 Policy’ is designed to address global challenges of climate change and depleting non-renewable resources by moving away from chemical-based industries to sustainable bio-based models, promoting a circular bioeconomy, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions through innovative waste utilization. India will find itself in perfect harmony with Brazil given their similarities in agriculture and economy.
Capitalising on other strategies
Apart from the major ongoing negotiations, India is believed to take up other engagements on the sidelines to maximise the outcome of climate mitigation and adaptation goals. The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) is a similar innovative engagement which has brought together governments, private sectors, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and research institutions and made the low-carbon transition of emission-intensive industries a global reality. India-Sweden Industry Transition Partnership (ITP) – one of the pilot platforms of LeadIT – launched by the Prime Ministers of both nations in CoP 28 has made way for north-south cooperation in climate action. This initiative is expected to come out with an exemplary road map for lasting outcomes at COP 30.
Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) have emerged as a strong interest group in Baku. India delivered a statement on behalf of the LMDCs which underscored that the developed countries should commit to a reasonable ‘climate fund which could be in the form of grants, concessional finance, and non-debt-inducing support without subjecting developing countries to growth-inhibiting conditionalities’. The role of the group will be critical in the negotiation process at Belem.
India has recognized the role of local communities and regional governments in fostering sustainable lifestyles through the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment) and rolled out various domestic schemes to encourage the participation of women to promote gender in the renewable energy sector. This groundwork will have a profound impact on correcting the approach towards climate change.
In conclusion, the success of COP30 will mostly come through realignment with the Paris Agreements and unifying the commitments of the Rio Convention on biodiversity, desertification, and climate change with meaningful climate funding, and integration of agricultural activities into climate action plans for mitigation and adaptation strategies at the global level. India should be prepared for greater responsibilities to move towards common goals. Nonetheless, the negotiations will require the cooperation of all the parties as Marina Silva, the Brazilian environmentalist and the Minister of the Environment & and Climate Change calls for: ‘Society and science are doing their part. Governments and companies are the ones who need to step up.’
N:B The opinions expressed in the article are the authors’ views and do not represent the views of the organization.
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