India to push for equitable climate action at COP31: Bhupender Yadav

India will push for equitable and practical climate solutions at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), focusing on climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer and the concerns of developing nations, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday.
Briefing the media in New Delhi, Yadav said COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, would provide an opportunity to advance the priorities of the Global South through capacity building, knowledge-sharing and region-specific solutions.He said India would work with the G-77 and China, Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and BASIC nations to strengthen the interests of developing countries. Climate finance would remain a key priority, with India seeking predictable, concessional and largely public funding from developed nations without increasing the debt burden of developing countries.
On adaptation, India will advocate voluntary indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation and call for greater financial support. Yadav also stressed that climate targets should respect national circumstances and that participation in carbon markets should remain voluntary.The Minister highlighted the importance of technology transfer, particularly in addressing barriers related to costs, intellectual property rights and trade. He also said India would focus on climate-resilient agriculture, food security and the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, acording to government agency reports.India's participation will include initiatives such as LeadIT 3.0, in collaboration with Sweden, and events focusing on coastal resilience, forests and the International Big Cat Alliance.
Yadav also highlighted India's participation in the recent global biodiversity and land restoration conferences. At the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Armenia, India emphasised equitable implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adequate financial support and fair benefit-sharing.At the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Mongolia, India highlighted land restoration as essential for food and water security, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. The country reiterated its commitment to restoring more than 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.Yadav said India would continue to promote equity, science-based solutions and adequate financial support across global climate and environmental negotiations, with particular attention to the priorities of developing nations.