COP30: differences persist over fossil fuel phase-out roadmap

Climate finance and trade-related unilateral measures (like Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or CBAM imposed by the EU), which India has been raising along with some others, were not mentioned in the draft either. Likewise, the developed countries’ demand for raising mitigation ambition in pursuance of the 1.5 degree Celsius target and for greater transparency in climate reporting were also sidestepped. 

Notably, a potential roadmap for the “transition away from fossil fuels” was among the options outlined in the first draft of a potential outcome from the two weeks of talks (November 10-21), which are due to end on Friday but are likely to continue into the weekend. Before reviewing the key developments at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) meeting, let’s understand the significance of the climate summit. 

Significance of COP30

In 1992, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed at the historic Rio Earth Summit in Brazil. Thirty-three years later, the COP30 was held in the country where the world’s modern climate journey began. COP Presidency rotates among the five recognised UN regions, i.e. Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and others.

This year’s COP also marks the tenth year of the historic Paris Agreement (2015). It is taking place at a time when the world experiences record-high global average temperatures, rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and growing conflicts and trade disputes that are affecting climate diplomacy.

Host country Brazil is pushing this as the ‘COP of adaptation’, with the primary focus on mobilising reliable and predictable financial and technical support for developing and underdeveloped nations. The main objectives include:

1. Strengthening multilateralism through global cooperation in climate governance.

2. Accelerate the implementation of existing climate goals set out in the Paris agreement and the first Global Stocktake during COP28 in Dubai. 

The aim is not to create any new goal but to act decisively on implementing various mitigation and adaptation goals already agreed upon, and mobilise financial resources for them. 

What are the major new initiatives?

At COP30, some new initiatives have been launched to address the existing and emerging issues. Some of these initiatives are:

1. The Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF): Offering an innovative model of climate finance, the TFFF is a permanent and results-based mechanism. It seeks to compensate countries for preserving tropical forests, with 20 per cent of funds reserved for indigenous peoples who protect them. India has joined the Facility as an Observer. 

2. The Open Planetary Intelligence Network (OPIN): This is launched for data interoperability, which will accelerate the global climate transformation by unifying critical digital technologies. 

3. The Global Ethical Stocktake (GES): This is yet another significant initiative, which seeks to incorporate moral and ethical considerations and civil society dimensions into the global climate action agenda. Its Asia edition was held in New Delhi this September.

Moreover, the negotiations at the summit are mainly focused on five key areas, i.e., adaptation, mitigation, means of implementation, just transition, and the global stocktake (GST).

GST is a mandatory review process for countries to assess the progress towards achieving the climate goals set in the Paris agreement. This assessment can help evaluate progress, identify the gaps, guide future actions and draft policies accordingly, both at the domestic and global levels.

India at COP30

India, in its statement on behalf of the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group at the opening session of COP30, expressed its full support for multilateralism, equity and climate justice.

New Delhi has also emphasised the need for a clear and universally agreed definition of climate finance, scaling up of the flows of these climate finances and implementation of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement –  a legal obligation for the developed countries to provide climate finance to developing countries for adaptation. 

Drawing attention to the inadequate adaptation financing, India also noted that there is a need for fifteen times more funding than the current flows. Developing countries need these finances to mitigate their emissions and implement adaptation strategies where impacts are unavoidable. 

Furthermore, India also reiterated the importance of the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ (CBDR-RC), and the full and effective implementation of the UNFCCC, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

The need for reliable, affordable and equitable access to climate technologies should be fulfilled without hindrances of market and intellectual property rights. In its statement, India cautioned against protectionism and unilateral climate-related trade measures. 

How Delhi seeks to reduce 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ 

Reiterating its commitment to be part of the solution, India has taken several positive and ambitious steps in this regard. It achieved its 2030 NDC target of having 50 per cent of its installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources five years ahead of schedule in July 2025.

Its target to reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 43-45 per cent (compared to 2005 levels) is also expected to be achieved well before 2030. Between 2005 and 2020, India reduced its emission intensity of GDP by 36 per cent. 

New Delhi actively supports multiple action-oriented multilateral alliances and groupings such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the International Big Cat Alliance, etc. The ISA has 125 signatory member countries, and CDRI has 61 members (50 countries and 10 partner organisations).

Currently, India has the world’s largest green hydrogen mission, the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Launched in 2023, the mission set a target of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen production capacity by 2030, backed by an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore. India is the first country to have developed a taxonomy of green steel.

Moreover, it is also promoting sustainable lifestyle through Mission LiFE and Green Credit Programme, and plans to launch the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) early next year. All these policies are expected to help India reduce about 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ between 2020 and 2030.

COP30: What lies ahead 

The recently published Emissions Gap Report (2025) indicates that even if countries fully implement their current climate pledges, global temperatures are still projected to be far above the Paris agreement target of 1.5°C, reaching around 2.3°C and 2.5°C this century. The report warns that global temperatures are very likely to overshoot the Paris target within the next decade, making it an urgent priority to limit the extent and duration of this overshoot.

The report also underlines that India leads in absolute GHG emissions, with a growth rate of 3.6 per cent – second only to Indonesia, which recorded a 4.6 per cent increase. Although India’s per capita emission is still below the global average, increased industrial activity, larger energy demand, transport, and cement production have contributed to rising national carbon footprint. Currently, the top six emitters in terms of total GHG emissions are China, the USA, India, the European Union, Russia, and Indonesia.

Post read questions

Describe the major outcomes of the 30th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference?

India has made significant progress in achieving its climate goals ahead of schedule. Discuss the key initiatives and their expected impact on India’s carbon footprint.

Evaluate the role of multilateral alliances like the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in strengthening India’s climate diplomacy and global environmental leadership.

What is the importance of developing a taxonomy for green steel? How does it align with India’s broader climate and industrial policy goals?

Discuss the role of behavioural change initiatives like Mission LiFE in achieving India’s climate targets. How can such programmes be effectively implemented at the grassroots level?

(Abhinav Rai is a Doctoral candidate at the Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi.)

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