Antalya (Türkiye): India has called for a fair and balanced global climate agreement at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), stressing that developed nations must fulfil their financial responsibilities towards developing countries.
Delivering India’s opening statement at the summit on November 10, 2026, Narendra Bhooshan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, reiterated India’s commitment to international climate cooperation. He also acknowledged the leadership of Türkiye and Australia in organising the conference and appreciated the efforts of participating nations and negotiating groups.
India aligned itself with the positions expressed by the G77 and China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and the BASIC group, while emphasising that the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement remain essential platforms for international climate negotiations.
Welcoming the COP31 Presidency’s focus on implementation through dialogue, consensus and action, India said meaningful discussions must translate into concrete progress on climate commitments.
The Indian delegation also highlighted concerns over the growing risk of global temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold. It stressed that climate action must be guided by equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), recognising that countries have different capacities and historical responsibilities.
India further pointed to the challenges of ensuring a just transition and strengthening climate adaptation, particularly across developing nations where climate action is closely linked to economic growth and public welfare.
On climate finance, India stressed that developed countries must provide financial support to developing nations, with public funding playing a crucial role in advancing climate action and adaptation. It specifically highlighted Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which outlines developed countries’ obligation to provide financial resources.
India said it would continue engaging constructively with all participating nations to secure an ambitious and equitable outcome at COP31.
