Time for climate action, not endless reviews: Yadav at pre-COP30 meet

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has said that while dialogue on climate change remains important, the global community must now prioritise implementing ambitious climate measures.

Addressing the Global Stocktake (GST) breakout session during pre-COP30 meetings in Brasilia, Yadav reaffirmed India’s full support for making COP30 successful through collective and inclusive climate action.

“We must now focus on implementing ambitious climate measures and, above all, addressing the most pressing challenge — the urgent lack of resources for developing countries to deliver adaptation and mitigation,” Yadav said.

He emphasised that the time for endless reviews without action has passed. “Dialogue is important, but action is imperative,” he added.

The minister noted the successful conclusion of the first GST during COP28 in 2023, saying it affirmed that the Paris Agreement is being implemented in earnest.

The GST is a five-year process that assesses global progress towards the Paris Agreement goals. Yadav said it serves three key functions — evaluating collective progress, identifying remaining gaps and guiding enhanced action both domestically and globally.

“The GST functions as the driving force of the agreement, fostering political momentum and sustaining efforts towards higher ambition,” he said, adding that dialogues informed by GST outcomes can promote international cooperation and domestic climate action.

For future GSTs, Yadav cautioned against rushing to include scientific assessments without thorough discussion of their global relevance. Science, he said, must maintain rigour, accuracy and robustness, drawing on diverse and credible sources.

On the sidelines, Yadav met EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra to discuss strengthening India-EU climate partnerships and energy security. “Underlined the importance of climate finance, technology transfer and cooperative solutions for sustainable growth,” he said in a post.

He also met Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President Designate of COP30, for discussions focused on strengthening climate cooperation, energy security and adaptation measures to deliver tangible outcomes under the Paris Agreement.