Axis of good emerges in climate diplomacy

At Belém, India’s focus on equitable finance, technology access, and practical partnerships reflected the growing maturity of climate diplomacy — one defined less by rhetoric and more by results

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Geopolitical turbulence has become the defining feature of our times. From trade wars to real wars in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to growing protectionism and fractured global supply chains, today’s world is anything but predictable.

Climate policy continues to feel the strain. Multilateralism, once the primary conduit for global climate action, is faltering. Yet amid this fraying fabric, a quieter —and arguably more durable— pattern is emerging: A network of pragmatic, interest-driven partnerships that may prove more effective in a rapidly emergent new world order. There is a new kind of global cooperation developing, one that is more multi-nodal than unipolar and one grounded on purposeful alignment. This is what we call an “axis of good” —a constellation of countries choosing to move forward together on climate action not because they are compelled to, or not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is in their shared interest.

India sits at the heart of this shift. In contrast to the gridlock of global climate negotiations that are unfortunately likely for the next few years, the country is quietly forging purposeful alliances across continents — not ideological blocs, but practical coalitions focused on mutual benefit.

Take India’s partnership with the European Union (EU). While their formal climate negotiations often meander, cooperation on clean technology has gathered pace. Joint investments and knowledge-sharing initiatives around green hydrogen, battery storage and low-carbon industrial processes point to a shared recognition: Technology transfer and market access, not abstract commitments, are what will drive real emission intensity reductions and build the foundations for success in the new green economy that is inevitable. The EU's research and technological prowess and India’s scale and cost innovation create natural synergies.