SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
In the High-level Statement at the Closing Plenary of the UNFCCC CoP30 in Belém, Brazil, India expressed strong support for the Presidency’s inclusive leadership and welcomed several significant outcomes, foremost among them the establishment of the Just Transition Mechanism. India called this a significant milestone and expressed hope that it would help operationalize equity and climate justice at both global and national levels.
A central theme of India’s address was the caution that the burden of Climate Change Mitigation must not be shifted onto the shoulders of those who have the least responsibility in causing the problem.
India underscored the crucial, long-standing obligations of developed countries to provide Climate Finance. India welcomed the focus on Article 9.1 of Paris Agreement and sincerely hoped that promises made 33 years ago in Rio would now be fulfilled.
India also expressed satisfaction that the CoP Presidency delivered space to discuss Unilateral Trade-restrictive Climate Measures. India cautioned that these measures are increasingly affecting all developing countries and violate the principles of equity and CBDR-RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities), stressing that these issues cannot continue to be ignored.
India’s statement firmly reinforces its commitment to the foundational principle of Climate Justice and signals the increasing priority being given to challenging Unilateral Trade-Restrictive Climate Measures (such as carbon border adjustments). The establishment of the Just Transition Mechanism provides a new avenue for India to seek international finance and support for domestic energy transitions that are crucial for achieving its Net-Zero goals by 2070.
What is the Just Transition Mechanism?→ The Just Transition Mechanism is a significant outcome established at CoP30 that India welcomed. It is a framework intended to operationalize equity and climate justice by ensuring that the shift away from fossil fuels and towards a green economy happens in a manner that addresses the socio-economic impacts on workers, communities, and regions that depend on high-carbon industries. India hopes this mechanism will provide the necessary global and national support for vulnerable populations undergoing energy transitions.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific metrics and governance rules must the new Just Transition Mechanism adopt to ensure developed nations fulfill their long-standing climate finance obligations to the Global South?
Follow the full news here: India Reaffirms Climate Equity Stance, Welcomes Just Transition Mechanism at CoP30