India reaffirmed its commitment to equitable climate action and urged developed countries to accelerate emission cuts and fulfill long-pending financial pledges during the Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, in Belém, Brazil.
Delivering India’s national statement, Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia said New Delhi remained committed to climate action guided by equity, national circumstances and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
He said COP30, hosted in Belém from Nov. 10 to 21, marked a “moment for reflection” on global progress since the 1992 Rio Summit and the 2015 Paris Agreement. Those milestones, he added, laid the foundation for the current international climate framework.
Brazil’s Forest Facility Welcomed
India welcomed Brazil’s creation of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility and joined it as an observer. The initiative aims to mobilize sustained global action to protect tropical forests.
“This step reflects collective resolve to safeguard the planet’s green lungs,” Bhatia said, noting India’s support for nature-based solutions and sustainable land management.
Bhatia said India’s development path under Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized low-carbon growth. Between 2005 and 2020, the country cut the emission intensity of its gross domestic product by 36 percent.
Non-fossil energy now accounts for more than half of India’s installed power capacity, helping it reach its revised nationally determined contribution target five years early.
He also said India’s expansion of forest and tree cover created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent between 2005 and 2021.
The country has become the world’s third-largest renewable energy producer, with nearly 200 gigawatts of installed capacity.
Global Solar Collaboration Expands
Bhatia highlighted India’s global climate leadership through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, which now includes over 120 member countries. The alliance promotes affordable solar energy and strengthens South-South cooperation.
Despite progress among developing countries, Bhatia said global ambition remains inadequate. He warned that the remaining global carbon budget is shrinking rapidly.
“Developed nations must accelerate emission reductions and deliver the promised, adequate and predictable support,” he said.
He stressed that affordable finance, technology access and capacity-building are essential for developing nations to implement ambitious climate goals. Equitable and concessional climate finance, he added, remains the cornerstone for achieving global targets.
Reaffirming India’s faith in multilateralism and the Paris Agreement, Bhatia said the next decade of climate action should focus on implementation, resilience and shared responsibility.
“Targets alone are not enough,” he said. “We must ensure that actions are ambitious, inclusive, and fair — grounded in trust and mutual respect.”
India’s statement at COP30 highlighted that the conference should not only set new targets but also deliver tangible action and lasting partnerships for a sustainable future.
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