At the opening session of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, India emerged as a strong voice for developing nations, pushing for fairness, finance, and inclusivity in global climate action. Representing both the BASIC group comprising Brazil, South Africa, India, and China and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) coalition, India laid out a detailed framework calling for equity, climate justice, and shared responsibilities.
India emphasized that the progress of COP30 must rest on the core principle of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities,” asserting that developed countries must shoulder greater accountability for their historic role in driving climate change. It also reminded the global community that the balance between mitigation, adaptation, and support must remain central to the Paris Agreement’s framework to preserve trust among developing nations.
Marking ten years since the Paris Agreement, India spotlighted climate finance as the most significant barrier to meaningful climate action. It urged a globally accepted definition of climate finance, an increase in public funds for adaptation, and full compliance with Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which mandates developed nations to provide financial support to developing countries. India warned that adaptation finance currently falls short by nearly fifteen times and that the 2025 goal to double it is unlikely to be achieved without urgent intervention.
Reiterating that adaptation is a necessity, not a choice, India backed the UAE–Belém Work Programme on Adaptation and the Baku Adaptation Roadmap. These initiatives aim to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities and ensure no one is left behind in the transition to sustainable systems.
India also highlighted barriers to technology transfer, emphasizing that intellectual property restrictions and unequal market access continue to hinder developing nations from accessing clean technologies. It called for fair and actionable outcomes under the Technology Implementation Programme and demanded that the Just Transition framework must prioritize justice and inclusion, particularly for workers and low-income communities.
A major point of contention raised by India was the growing use of unilateral climate-related trade measures by developed countries, including carbon border taxes. India warned that such actions violate the principles of the UNFCCC, risk turning climate policy into economic protectionism, and threaten multilateral cooperation.
In a joint statement with BASIC and LMDC partners, India urged developed countries to achieve net-zero emissions sooner, invest in negative-emission technologies, and honor their commitments on finance, capacity-building, and technology sharing.
Concluding its remarks, India reaffirmed its commitment to a balanced and justice-driven climate outcome at COP30, advocating for a future that safeguards both human development and the planet’s ecosystems.
India’s firm stand in Belém cements its role as a bridge between developed and developing nations—a voice calling for fairness, equity, and accountability in the fight against climate change.