India slams developed nations for failing to meet climate commitments at CoP30 in Brazil

The 30th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (CoP) held in Belem, Brazil, concluded last week, highlighting the need for the world to stand together in achieving climate goals, finance and new measures in climate action plans.

India, which is likely to host CoP33 in 2028 after Turkey and Ethiopia, emphasised on long-standing obligations of developed countries to provide climate finance to implement the climate action goals set by UNFCCC in the last 33 years. ''India sincerely hopes in the spirit of international cooperation that promises made 33 years ago in Rio would now be fulfilled due to the first steps Parties have taken in Belem," said India's representatives at the conference.

Referring to Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which says developed nations shall provide financial resources to developing countries, India said it must be ensured that the burden of 'Climate Change Mitigation' is not shifted onto the shoulders of those who have the least responsibility in causing the problem. The need for greater global support to vulnerable populations, a large majority of whom are in the global South, was stressed upon so that they may protect themselves from the escalating impacts of climate change.

Key takeaways from CoP 30 were:

Belem 4x pledge on sustainable fuels: The CoP30 pledged to accelerate the energy transition and expand the supply of liquid biofuels, biogas, hydrogen, and other inputs, with a vision to increase at least fourfold the use of sustainable fuels by 2035 from 2024 levels.

Belem Health Action Plan: It aims to strengthen global health systems to cope better with the impacts of climate change. It is based on health equity and ‘climate justice,’ and leadership and governance on climate and health with social participation.

Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF): A new initiative to protect rainforests globally, which will benefit in protecting rainforests in the Himalayas, East India and Western Ghats.  It is designed as a “payment-for-performance” initiative to fund tropical forest countries in preserving their forests. FFF aims to mobilise USD 125 billion through public and private investment. To begin with, host Brazil has made a $1 billion investment commitment.

The Open Planetary Intelligence Network (OPIN): For data interoperability to accelerate the global climate transformation by unifying critical digital technologies.

The Global Ethical Stocktake (GES): To incorporate moral and ethical considerations and civil society dimensions into the global climate action plans.  

Belem Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and People-Centred Climate Action: Leaders from 43 countries and the European Union signed a declaration, placing the world’s most vulnerable populations at the centre of global climate policy.

However, the Brazil CoP failed to address some key areas of climate action disputes over the years, like a global phaseout roadmap of fossil fuels, which was a demand of many developed nations and climate finance obligations from the developed nations. Countries like China and India were also opposing issues like trade-related restrictive measures, such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).