India Reaffirms Commitment to Equity, Climate Justice and Multilateralism at CoP30 in Brazil

India reaffirmed its strong commitment to equity, climate justice, and multilateralism at the Opening Plenary of the UNFCCC CoP30 in Belém, Brazil, while delivering statements on behalf of both the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) groups.

In its address, India underscored the principles of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) as the cornerstone of the global climate regime, calling for the full and effective implementation of the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement.

India expressed unwavering support for multilateralism and international cooperation, warning against unilateral climate-related measures that risk turning into instruments of protectionism and undermine the spirit of global collaboration.

Marking ten years of the Paris Agreement, India identified climate finance as the critical enabler of ambition, urging developed nations to:

• Establish a clear, universally accepted definition of climate finance.
• Scale up public finance for adaptation and implement Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which mandates developed countries to provide financial support to developing nations.

India emphasized that adaptation must take centre stage at CoP30, noting that current adaptation finance flows must increase fifteenfold to meet global needs. It called for a strong Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) with flexibility for national circumstances and supported the launch of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap under the UAE–Belém Work Programme.

Reiterating that technology access is a right, not a bargaining tool, India demanded the removal of intellectual property and market barriers that hinder climate technology transfer to developing countries. It also urged for a robust outcome on the Technology Implementation Programme.

On Just Transitions, India stressed that climate actions must be people-centric, equitable, and inclusive, ensuring no community or nation is left behind. “Climate transitions must narrow, not widen, the development gap between the Global North and South,” India stated.

Speaking for BASIC and LMDC, India reminded developed nations of their historical responsibility and urged them to achieve net-zero emissions earlier, invest in negative emissions technologies, and fulfil commitments on finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building.

India concluded by reaffirming its commitment to a constructive and collaborative engagement to ensure a balanced and successful CoP30 outcome, in the spirit of protecting Mother Earth and advancing the collective interests of humanity.