Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has urged G20 nations to serve as a crucial link between the ambitious climate action plans and their practical implementation. Speaking at the G20 Environment Ministers' Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, Yadav emphasized the need for the world's largest economies to ensure that every nation's contribution to combating climate change is respected and that each country's capacity to meet environmental challenges is enhanced.
Yadav stressed that developed countries should view financial support to developing nations in tackling climate change as a duty rather than a mere promise. He called for the reaffirmation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). This principle acknowledges that while all countries have a shared responsibility to address climate change, their obligations differ based on their historical contributions and current capabilities. He stated that financial assistance to developing countries to address environmental challenges "needs to be honored as an onerous duty rather than a mere promise because equality is not a privilege, it is a right".
The Minister highlighted that the Paris Agreement is completing 10 years this year, and India has already achieved several of its climate goals ahead of schedule. As part of its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UN Climate Change Secretariat in August 2022, India committed to achieving 50% of its cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030. India surpassed this target by July 2025, five years ahead of schedule. The nation has also pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 and aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through afforestation and other land-based measures. Reports suggest that India is on track to meet these targets.
Yadav is currently on a two-nation trip, including the G20 meeting and a pre-COP meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, ahead of the UN climate summit (COP30) to be held in Belem, Brazil, next month. At the pre-COP meeting, he is expected to advocate for increased climate finance for the Global South and discuss adaptation strategies. India is expected to submit its national adaptation plan and updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) – a climate action plan for 2035 – to the UN climate body ahead of COP30.
India's first national adaptation plan will serve as a blueprint for integrating adaptation into national development plans and policies across various economic sectors. It aims to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks across sectors such as agriculture, water resources, the Himalayan region, coastal areas, health, and disaster management. The NDC will specify India's greenhouse gas emission reduction target and its goal of increasing electricity generation from non-fossil fuel resources by 2035.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yadav stated that the world must go "back to the basics" while progressing towards the future. He emphasized that "Ecosystem-based solutions and futuristic technologies must converge to create a sustainable future". He also noted that "Knowledge sharing, capacity building, technology co-development, and transfer will play a significant role in attaining sustainability". The Minister advocated for a "whole-of-society" approach and encouraged people to adopt "pro-planet lifestyle choices".
