India has called for equal attention to adaptation, mitigation and means of implementation as countries prepare for the upcoming COP31 climate conference.
Leading the Indian delegation at the UNFCCC Pre-COP31 meetings, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said the principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) must be upheld for meaningful and sustained climate action.
Addressing the Leaders’ Plenary in Fiji, the Minister said there cannot be a “one-size-fits-all” approach to addressing climate change, and stressed the importance of developing solutions based on local studies and assessments.
He said such assessments can help identify appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures as well as the resources required to implement them.
Highlighting India’s experience, Yadav said the country, with its extensive coastline and islands, understands the challenges faced by Pacific Island countries.
He said India has developed considerable expertise in ocean science through institutions including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR).
India has developed expertise in areas including coastal vulnerability assessment, shoreline-change mapping, marine spatial planning and integrated coastal management, besides efforts to unlock the potential of the Blue Economy.
The Minister also highlighted India’s use of its space ecosystem and Earth-observation capabilities for shoreline monitoring, inundation assessment, cyclone and extreme-weather early warning systems and climate-risk assessment.
Yadav offered to share India’s coastal resilience and space-based expertise with its Pacific partners.
He said India has consistently worked with Pacific countries in areas including health and wellness, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, information technology, agriculture and capacity building.
Referring to his visit to Tuvalu, the Minister highlighted the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project as an example of how international cooperation and the provision of means of implementation can translate into tangible climate resilience on the ground.
He reiterated the importance of developing local solutions to emerging climate challenges, particularly for vulnerable regions.
The Pre-COP31 meeting is being co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu as part of preparations for the annual UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, which is scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.
