India calls for equity, climate finance and fair global action at COP31

ANTALYA, Türkiye, November 10: India has reaffirmed its commitment to climate multilateralism, equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), calling for a fair, equitable and ambitious outcome at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), being held in Antalya, Türkiye.

Delivering India’s opening statement at COP31, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Narendra Bhooshan, emphasised that international cooperation, climate justice and the fulfilment of financial commitments by developed nations must remain central to global climate negotiations.

India expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Australia for their leadership of COP31 and commended all participating countries and negotiating groups for their efforts to strengthen climate multilateralism. The country also aligned itself with the statements made by the G77 and China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and the BASIC group, comprising Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Reiterating its faith in the multilateral climate process, India said the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement remain the most inclusive international platforms, where every country has a voice in shaping the global climate agenda.

India welcomed the COP31 Presidency’s vision of a ‘COP of Implementation’, guided by the principles of Dialogue, Consensus and Action. It observed that dialogue builds trust among nations, consensus ensures collective ownership of decisions, and action translates international commitments into tangible progress on the ground.

Highlighting the growing risks associated with the prospect of global warming exceeding the 1.5°C threshold, India stressed that equity has become increasingly important to ensure that no country or vulnerable community is left behind in tackling the climate crisis.

The Indian delegation reiterated that the country would continue contributing its fair share to global climate action while safeguarding the development priorities and well-being of its people.

It also highlighted the challenges of ensuring a just transition and meeting adaptation requirements, particularly for countries in the Global South, where climate action is closely linked to fundamental development needs, poverty reduction and economic growth.

Climate finance remains a key concern

On climate finance, India underlined that public finance from developed countries remains essential for enabling climate action in developing nations and strengthening their capacity to adapt to climate impacts.

It specifically emphasised Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which requires developed country Parties to provide financial resources to assist developing countries in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

India’s position reflects a longstanding concern among developing nations that climate commitments cannot be translated into meaningful action without predictable, adequate and accessible financial support, particularly for countries facing significant climate vulnerabilities.

The emphasis on Article 9.1 also brings the question of responsibility and accountability back to the centre of climate negotiations, especially as developing countries seek greater support to implement their climate plans and strengthen resilience against extreme weather events.

Reaffirming its constructive engagement at COP31, India said it would work with all Parties towards achieving a fair, equitable and ambitious outcome.

As negotiations progress, India’s intervention underscores a broader challenge facing global climate diplomacy: ensuring that the push for faster climate action is matched by fairness in the distribution of responsibilities, adequate financial resources and recognition of the different development realities of nations.