India, on Tuesday, delivered statements on behalf of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) at the Opening Plenary of UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in an official statement.
The statement emphasized the central importance of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC), as well as the full and effective implementation of the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. India reaffirmed its unwavering support for multilateralism and international cooperation on climate change, particularly in the current complex geopolitical context, while appreciating the Brazilian Presidency for its extensive preparations for the conference.
Highlighting the need for reliable, affordable, and equitable access to climate technologies, India called for a strong outcome on the Technology Implementation Programme, noting that intellectual property and market barriers must not hinder technology transfer to developing countries.
Marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, India underscored that climate finance remains a major barrier to raising ambition. The country called for a clear, universally agreed definition of climate finance, along with strengthened and scaled-up public finance flows for adaptation under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, reaffirming the legal obligations of developed nations to support developing countries.
India further pointed out that adaptation financing needs to increase nearly fifteen-fold, stressing that billions of vulnerable people in developing countries—who have contributed least to global warming—are the most affected. The country called for a strong outcome on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), including agreement on minimum indicators with flexibility for national circumstances, and supported advancing the UAE-Belém Work Programme and the launch of the Baku Adaptation Roadmap to ensure inclusivity.
On the Just Transitions Work Programme, India emphasized the need for action-oriented institutional arrangements to ensure climate transitions are equitable, just, and inclusive, bridging development gaps between the Global North and South.
India also warned that unilateral climate-related trade measures could act as protectionist tools, undermining multilateral cooperation and violating Article 3.5 of the Convention. Both BASIC and LMDC stressed that the Paris Agreement architecture must remain intact, with CBDR-RC as the cornerstone of the global climate regime.
Speaking on behalf of BASIC and LMDC, India recalled the historical and ongoing responsibilities of developed nations, urging them to reach net-zero emissions earlier, invest in negative emissions technologies, and fulfill commitments on finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building for developing countries.
Concluding, India reaffirmed its commitment to constructive and collaborative engagement at COP30 to achieve a successful and balanced outcome, aligned with the broader goal of protecting, preserving, and conserving the planet.
