India flags rich nations’ climate finance obligations

New Delhi: India has stepped up pressure on developed nations to honour their climate finance commitments, asserting that poorer countries cannot be expected to shoulder the growing costs of fighting climate change while meeting their own development needs.

Climate Finance

At the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya, Türkiye, India said equity, adaptation and a just energy transition must remain central to global climate negotiations, particularly for developing economies.

Delivering India’s opening statement, Narendra Bhooshan, secretary at the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, said developed countries had an obligation under the Paris Agreement to provide financial resources to support climate action in the developing nations.

India called for greater financial support for developing economies, particularly to help them adapt to rising climate risks and make a fair transition to cleaner energy. The appeal comes amid mounting concerns over global warming breaching the 1.5°C threshold.

Bhooshan reaffirmed India’s commitment to climate multilateralism and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

India stressed that Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement places an obligation on developed countries to provide financial resources to developing nations to support climate action. “Public finance from developed countries remains central to catalysing climate action in developing countries and strengthening adaptation finance flows to address their vulnerabilities,” the government’s press statement said.

India also reiterated its commitment to contributing its fair share to global climate action while pursuing the development and wellbeing of its people. It underscored that a just transition and meeting adaptation needs remain significant challenges, particularly for the Global South, where these are closely intertwined with the challenge of development itself.

India also welcomed the COP31 presidency’s vision of a ‘COP of Implementation’, centred on dialogue, consensus and action, and said the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement remain the most inclusive platforms for global climate cooperation.