India, Finland discuss deeper cooperation on circular economy, climate action ahead of COP31

New Delhi:- India and Finland on Thursday discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation on the circular economy, climate action, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development during a meeting between Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala in New Delhi.

The meeting came immediately after the conclusion of the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) 2026 in Gandhinagar, giving the two countries an opportunity to review the outcomes of the forum and explore how discussions on circularity can be translated into practical partnerships, investments and scalable solutions.

Mr Yadav said the two sides discussed the key takeaways from WCEF 2026 and explored ways to further advance the India-Finland partnership in the circular economy. They also exchanged views on the forthcoming UNFCCC COP31 and matters of mutual interest under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution.

“India and Finland share a strong commitment to advancing climate action, circularity, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development through deeper cooperation,” Yadav said in a post following the meeting.

The bilateral meeting followed the 2026 edition of the World Circular Economy Forum, held in Gandhinagar from September 15-16, with related accelerator activities continuing thereafter.

Finland’s Multala, who participated in the closing session, said India had not merely hosted WCEF but had “inspired it”.
She highlighted the importance of the people-centred dimension of the transition and the need to turn ideas into investments and scale successful innovations more rapidly.

The forum therefore provided a significant platform for India and Finland to examine cooperation beyond policy dialogue, particularly in areas such as resource efficiency, sustainable production and consumption, waste management, innovation and circular business models.

Environmental partnership strengthened earlier this year

In March 2026, India and Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on environmental cooperation, with particular emphasis on circular economy, sustainable development solutions and climate work. The agreement was signed by Yadav and Multala and updated an earlier 2020 memorandum.

The Finnish Government said the renewed agreement was intended to create greater opportunities for Finnish companies and research institutions to cooperate with Indian partners. It also identified WCEF 2026 in India as a concrete example of the closer environmental partnership between the two countries.

The March agreement was part of a broader India-Finland push to strengthen cooperation in environmental technologies, sustainability and the green transition.

During Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s state visit to India in March, the two countries also acknowledged the renewal of the environmental cooperation MoU and encouraged deeper collaboration in circular economy, climate action and sustainability. The leaders also referred to cooperation on smart energy systems, water management, air-quality monitoring and sustainable solutions.

Climate diplomacy ahead of COP31
Climate diplomacy was another important element of Thursday’s discussions, with both sides exchanging views on the upcoming UN climate conference, COP31, which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9-20, 2026.

The discussions come at a time when countries are preparing for negotiations on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, climate finance, mitigation, adaptation and other elements of international climate action.

The two ministers also discussed matters of mutual interest under the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, reflecting the growing importance of efforts to establish an international response to plastic pollution.

India and Finland have previously expressed support for international efforts to address plastic pollution across its lifecycle. In the broader India-Nordic environmental agenda, the two sides have also highlighted pollution prevention, sustainable lifestyles and circular economy approaches as important components of sustainable development.

Mr Yadav’s post also referred to exchanges on CBD COP16. However, as of September 2026, COP16 is no longer an upcoming meeting. The biodiversity conference was held in Cali, Colombia, in October-November 2024 and its resumed session concluded in Rome on February 27, 2025. The resumed session reached agreements on biodiversity finance, monitoring and reporting under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, among other issues.

The reference to COP16 in the minister’s post can therefore be understood as relating to the implementation and follow-up of outcomes from the biodiversity process rather than an upcoming COP16 meeting.

The biodiversity agenda remains significant for India and Finland because both countries have placed conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystem resilience within their wider environmental cooperation.