German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann reflected on the recently concluded COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, underlining the need for multilateral collaboration and flexible approaches to climate action. “Credible climate action cannot be one-size-fits-all,” he noted during a high-level session of the German Embassy’s ‘Climate Talks’ in New Delhi on Monday.
Held from November 10-21, 2025, COP30 brought together world leaders, scientists, and stakeholders to deliberate on global climate strategies. Ambassador Ackermann highlighted the conference’s adoption of the ‘Global Mutirão’—a collective effort to tackle climate change—which he described as emblematic of the need for countries to act together.
The New Delhi edition of ‘Climate Talks’ focused on “COP30: Reflections from Belem” and featured Arunabha Ghosh, Founder and CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and South Asia Envoy to COP30. Speaking from a South Asian perspective, Ghosh stressed that COP30 marked a decisive shift from abstract discussions to actionable solutions.
“Implementation, not abstraction, is now at the core of global climate action,” Ghosh said. He emphasized that adaptation and resilience are immediate priorities for South Asian nations such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Bangladesh. According to Ghosh, countries require the flexibility to report on measures that are most relevant to their local contexts.
Highlighting the continuing relevance of multilateralism, he added, “Even imperfect agreements are crucial to demonstrate that collective action is possible. Just transition must prioritize people—physical and financial assets can be repurposed, but livelihoods dependent on coal today cannot be abandoned.”
Ghosh also underlined the potential of trade as a tool for climate ambition. “Collaborative technology development and investments across markets can drive real progress. The success of COP30 will be measured not just by two weeks of negotiations, but by what we achieve during the remaining fifty weeks of the year.”
Ambassador Ackermann pointed to COP30’s advances in adaptation and just transition, while noting that mitigation challenges remain. “We saw meaningful progress on socially fair climate action. Negotiations are only half the journey; the other half is implementation. New initiatives, including a fund to protect tropical forests supported by Germany’s EUR 1 billion pledge, aim to translate commitments into tangible results.”
Reaffirming Germany’s reliability as a climate partner, Ackermann highlighted the country’s achievements in climate finance. Germany met and exceeded its 2024 international commitments, contributing EUR 11.8 billion—including EUR 6.1 billion from budgetary resources—and mobilizing over EUR 1 billion in private capital, a milestone confirmed by the Federal Government’s latest EU report.
“Germany remains committed to its climate-finance pledges, even under challenging circumstances. This trust is essential for successful global negotiations,” Ackermann said.
Post-COP30, he stressed the importance of Indo-German cooperation in translating conference outcomes into action. He referenced discussions between India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider in Belem and highlighted avenues for continued collaboration.
“Through the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), we are turning climate commitments into concrete initiatives. Germany has also launched a new IKI Large Grant call for India, supporting its National Adaptation Plan and enhancing the resilience of forests, ecosystems, and biodiversity,” he said. Ackermann further pointed to the partnership between the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and CEEW, showcased at COP30, which helps India integrate climate considerations into development policies.
Ghosh shared South Asia-specific reflections, noting priorities such as adaptation needs, operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, and opportunities for just transition, green economy skills, and energy systems collaboration between India and Germany.
Marking a decade since the Paris Agreement, COP30 underscored the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The conference achieved significant progress in adaptation—tripling adaptation finance by 2035 and operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund—while debates over fossil fuel phase-out and climate finance revealed ongoing global divides.
Against this backdrop, Germany and India have emerged as key partners in driving constructive climate action: Germany through its consistent financial contributions and global initiatives, and India through its ambition and commitment to equitable solutions. The Climate Talks in New Delhi provided an opportunity to reflect on these developments, emphasizing that the next phase of climate action will hinge on implementation, collaboration, and innovation.
