The 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), abbreviated as COP28, was held in Dubai, UAE from November 30 to December 12. It is a multilateral decision-making forum on climate change and is held annually to discuss ways to mitigate the impact of climate change and to reduce carbon emissions.

Addressing the COP28 Presidency’s Session on Transforming Climate Finance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized upon the urgency of taking action on climate change. He also highlighted India’s efforts towards addressing this challenge. Continuing India’s commitment towards the Global South, Modi said that the Global South has had minimal role in the climate change. But due to exploitation of natural wealth in the past few centuries by few countries, implying the developed western countries, the entire world is now under the threat of climate change.

India has contributed only 4% to the global carbon emissions between 1850 and 2019 despite having 17% of world’s population. The developed countries have contributed 60% of global carbon emissions. Modi also spoke of the need for climate finance and technology transfer as means to mitigate the challenge posed by climate change.

While the COP28 reflected the faction-driven reality of the contemporary world order, India’s approach to the climate conference was emblematic of its wider nimble-footed navigation among the global fault lines.

First, the climate change summit started with the US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping choosing to skip this event. With the top leaders of countries with major carbon emissions remaining absent, the commitment of these countries towards mitigating the impact of climate change came under question even as the summit was yet to start. China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide accounting for 30.7% of world’s total emissions in 2022. The US is at the second place with 13.6% during the same period. India stands at third position with 7.6% of the total world emissions in 2022. While Russia also features in the top emitters’ list placed at the fourth position, President Vladimir Putin too chose to skip the climate meeting due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Second, climate financing remains a divisive factor between developed countries and developing countries. While the developed countries are responsible for majority of carbon emissions, they remain hesitant in financing the developing countries in their quest for energy transition. During the COP28, the outcome document of the first Global Stocktake called for the member countries to transit from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner. However, this Global Stocktake has absolved developed countries from transitioning from fossil fuels as well as from providing time-bound climate finance.  

Third, the developed countries still remained focused on traditional security threats and the ongoing wars in Russia, Ukraine and Middle East testify. These wars have not only caused disruption of supply chains, but also compromises on climate finance. Besides, militaries have emerged as a major contributor to carbon emissions. With the US having largest military presence across the world, it is the largest contributor of carbon emissions among the militaries.

For India, commitment to climate goals and sustainable development is an integral part of its foreign policy and has been receiving an increasing emphasis in bilateral and multilateral engagements. Importantly, India’s focus in the past few years has tilted heavily towards addressing the challenges posed by non-traditional security threats. Within this area, India has relentlessly pursued cooperation on climate change. India’s stand on the challenge posed by climate change differs from that of the developed countries.

Firstly, India, despite being a developing country and having to prioritize its economic development, has made commitments towards reducing its carbon emissions. As per the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) submitted to the UNFCCC in August 2022, India committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 level and achieve about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030. India’s long term climate commitment includes reaching net-zero by 2070.

Secondly, India’s proactive approach to climate change is not restricted to the annual climate summit. India has been vocal about this challenge at various international forums. In the recently concluded G20 Summit, of which India was the president, climate change and sustainable development formed one of the core issues of deliberation. India’s theme for the G20 Summit was ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. This theme not only highlighted the interconnectedness of the current global order but also brought out as to how it is necessary to be united in tackling a non-traditional security threat like climate change which is trans-national. India’s insistence on focusing on non-traditional security threats is in stark contrast with the western countries as well as China which are mostly engaged in geopolitical competition thereby mostly being restricted to traditional security threats.

Thirdly, parallel to its own priorities, India has been a prominent voice of the Global South. With the world in flux, India has raised its voice on the challenges faced by the countries of the Global South, mostly the developing countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is also playing its part in cooperating with the Global South in addressing the challenges like climate change. India’s climate diplomacy could be witnessed in its interactions with neighbours like Sri Lanka and the Maldives with which India has a sub-regional cooperation. India is engaged in assisting its two South Asian neighbours in their transition from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel energy by sharing expertise in solar and wind energy generation.

The COP28 did not end on a high note with climate commitments from the developed countries remaining uncertain. However, India with its consistent commitments and actions has stood out in the area of climate change which otherwise remains a divisive issue between various countries.

Mr. Niranjan Marjani is a political analyst and researcher based in Vadodara, India.