COP30: India calls for climate funding towards mitigation and adaptation efforts

A day before the critical climate negotiations kick off, India has voiced its concerns regarding the developed nations’ commitments to the Paris Agreement (signed at COP21), specifically criticising their failure to provide reliable funding for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

During a UN finance negotiation meeting held on Saturday night, India reiterated its demand for climate funding from developed countries, echoing the commitments made in 2015.
The discussions focused primarily on Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which concerns climate finance. India, representing a coalition of like-minded developing nations, emphasised that financial support must be dependable, supplemental and free of greenwashing.

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Article 9.1 outlines that developed countries are obligated to provide financial resources to support developing nations in both mitigation and adaptation measures. Meanwhile, Article 9.3 underscores the responsibility of developed countries to lead in mobilizing climate finance for these efforts.
The critical shift of developed countries’ stand was stressed by India during the talks and flagged the issue of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of the nations.
NCQG aims to raise at least USD 300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035, superseding the previous target of USD 100 billion. Additionally, it sets an ambitious goal of mobilizing USD 1.3 trillion annually from various sources by 2035.
This goal is a crucial aspect of the Paris Agreement and was a significant topic at COP29 in Baku in 2024, where discussions ran overtime due to its complexity. India expressed its dissatisfaction with the NCQG, describing it as a suboptimal solution that lacks clear commitments from developed nations.
They pointed out that while it references Article 9.3, it fails to address the issues outlined in Article 9.1. The Indian delegation criticized the decision as inadequate, lacking a specific plan to manage quantitative elements, and noted it shifts the onus of responsibility away from developed countries regarding the balance between mitigation and adaptation financing.

Later, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell addressed the media, emphasising the need for clarity as ministers arrive for the negotiations. He stated, “It’s essential to make their job as straightforward as possible by continuing vital technical work and making progress in each session.”

He further urged that to achieve successful outcomes at COP30, it’s crucial to seek alignment and common ground on issues significant to all parties involved. Stiell remarked on the importance of collaboration, urging participants to connect and engage in discussions to secure a balanced and concrete outcome for COP30, as the key issues are becoming increasingly evident.