CLIMATE DIPLOMACY IN 2025: A focus on India's leadership in COP 30

A focus on India's leadership in COP 30

- By Pushkar K Singh & Dr Mani Singh

The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of this century. It has a disproportionate impact on developing nations as it aggravates economic inequality and poverty. India has a long tradition of preserving nature and contributed actively in global climate change solutions since the beginning. It played a key role in setting an equitable agenda like the ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ at Rio de Janeiro, in 1992. Post the Paris Agreement, India has emerged as a global leader in climate diplomacy.

The recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) in November 2024 in Azerbaijan, has been criticised for missing the opportunity for a viable solution to combat global warming. The developing nations getting a commitment of meagre USD 300 billion annually by 2035 against the demand of USD 1.3 trillion annually was disappointing, especially when the same was not entirely from public finance.

India's climate diplomacy has emerged as a key strategic doctrine of foreign policy which not only provides an important platform for international leadership and inspires excellence in domestic economic activities, but is indispensable for protecting its huge population and emerging economy. COP 30, being hosted by Belem, Brazil in 2025 will be an exceptional opportunity for a course correction as the world has already deviated from the trajectory to reach the 1.5 degree level. It is time India engaged a dedicated professional and institutional support system comprising the best of businesses, scientists, bureaucrats and diplomats for taking up various critical agendas and showcasing domestic achievements.

Climatic action