At COP30, India urges developed nations to accelerate emission cuts

Delivering India’s national statement at the Leaders’ Summit of COP30, India’s Ambassador to Brazil Dinesh Bhatia reaffirmed the country’s steadfast commitment to climate action based on equity, national circumstances and the principles of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

The 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is being held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21.

India emphasised that, even a decade after the Paris agreement, the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of many nations remain inadequate. While developing countries are taking decisive steps towards climate action, global ambition continues to fall short. The statement underscored that, given the rapid depletion of the remaining carbon budget, developed nations must accelerate emission reductions and deliver the promised, adequate and predictable support.

India stressed that affordable finance, technology access and capacity-building were essential to enable developing countries to meet ambitious climate goals. Equitable, predictable and concessional climate finance, it added, remains the cornerstone of global climate action.

The statement also called COP30 an opportunity to reflect on the global response to climate change and to celebrate the legacy of the Rio Summit, where the principles of equity and CBDR-RC were adopted, laying the foundation of the international climate regime and the Paris agreement.

Welcoming Brazil’s initiative to establish the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), India recognised it as a major step towards collective and sustained global action for the preservation of tropical forests and joined the facility as an observer.

Highlighting India’s low-carbon development pathway, the statement noted that between 2005 and 2020, India reduced the emission intensity of its GDP by 36 per cent. Non-fossil power now accounts for over 50 per cent of India’s installed capacity, enabling the country to achieve its revised NDC target five years ahead of schedule.

The statement further highlighted India’s expansion of forest and tree cover and the creation of an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between 2005 and 2021. India has also emerged as the world’s third-largest producer of renewable energy, with nearly 200 GW of installed capacity.