Climate action must align with Viksit Bharat ambition

India's overarching goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 (becoming a developed country by 2047) is of paramount importance and the country's climate actions should align with that, union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said, explaining India's stand on climate change negotiations in the midst of geopolitical disruptions.

- Jayashree Nandi

But India will continue to be the voice of the Global South, he added.

Excerpts from an email interview on the eve of World Environment Day:

India is developing its first adaptation (making communities, people, and livelihoods climate-proof) strategy. What will it be its focus and how will it help address the impact of extreme weather events?

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our efforts are to ensure Viksit Bharat is a Green Bharat, and a climate resilient country. With that aim in mind, India is currently in the process of formulating its first comprehensive National Adaptation Plan (NAP), a strategic initiative to enhance the country's resilience to climate change.

NAP represents a major step forward in aligning adaptation planning with India's national development priorities and global climate commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

The core objective of the NAP is to protect lives, ecosystems, and livelihoods by supporting: understanding of current and future climate risks and vulnerabilities; identifying medium-and long-term priorities for climate adaptation; and establishing systems, policies, measures and capacities to ensure strengthened adaptation planning, budgeting and implementation.

The US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.

The outcome of the Baku COP was disappointing for many developing countries. What are your expectations from COP 30 in Brazil?

The UNFCCC is a multilateral forum which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a stronger goal to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. There have been many setbacks to the resolve to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, but the resolve stays. India will continue to work responsibly with the world, as the voice of the global south, in meeting whatever challenges emerge on the way to a greener tomorrow.