At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, India raised concerns over developed countries' efforts to expand the scope of the Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme (MWP) beyond previously agreed terms. India insisted that negotiating parties stick to established agreements, underlining the importance of fairness and equity in climate action.

India's stand on MWP

During the closing plenary on the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme, India, alongside groups like the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), the Arab Group, and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), emphasized the importance of respecting past decisions. India stated that MWP must stay within its stated mandate and cannot introduce targets or add obligations.

India’s statement underlined:

"We have seen no progress in matters that are critical for developing countries. Our part of the world is facing some of the worst impacts of climate change, with far lower capacity to recover from those impacts or to adapt to the changes to the climatic system for which we are not responsible."

Pointing out a lack of support

India called out the developed nations for not engaging meaningfully in discussions. There was frustration over inadequate climate finance that was lacking; which also hindered meaningful action.

"If there are no means of implementation, there can be no climate action. How can we discuss climate action, when it is being made impossible for us to act, even as our challenges in dealing with the impacts of climate change are increasing?"

Who should step up?

India emphasized the disproportionate burden that was being placed on developing countries as the developed nations procrastinated their climate obligations.

"We now have to meet our developmental needs in a situation of increasingly depleting carbon budget and increasing impacts of climate change. We are being asked to increase mitigation ambition by those who have shown no such ambition."

India's climate pledge and path to net-zero

India reaffirmed its commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. At COP26, the country set out its ambitious "Panchamrit" commitment that includes:

  1. Increasing non-fossil fuel capacity by 500GW by 2030. 
  2. 50 percent of its energy requirements to come from renewable energy by 2030. 
  3. Reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030. 
  4. Reduction of the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 percent by 2030, over 2005 levels. 
  5. Achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070. 

India's focus on green energy for climate mitigation overlaps with that of the global community, but India highlighted that such progress would need sufficient funds from richer countries.

COP29: A platform for action

From November 11 to November 22, the COP29 session will be a crucial moment for nations to review their commitments and progress. Meanwhile, India continues and vigorously pursues climate justice in appealing to the developed nations to be a beacon of good practice and provide resources for meaningful action globally.