Road to COP30

COP30 or the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference is scheduled to be held from November 10 to 21, 2025 in Brazil. While COP30 necessitates that all countries be ready to renew their commitment to emission reduction and address socio economic impact of climate change, it is imperative to look at what lies ahead for developing and developed countries with the changing political and environmental challenges. 

COP29 Recap 

Developed countries agreed to a new climate finance target to mobilise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. This new goal is known as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and it aims to triple the previous $100 billion annual target. COP29 also made significant advancements in establishing standards for carbon markets and carbon credit transfers through Article 6. The operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), which was established in COP27, was also a significant milestone for developing nations vulnerable to climate change impacts. 

COP30 Expectations 

COP29 was the first time ever that developed countries agreed to contribute such a large sum of money to the developing countries for financing climate transition. Similarly, climate finance will remain a key topic at COP30 and countries must formally start working towards the ambitious goal. 

After almost 10 years in the pipeline, Article 6 was finally discussed and concretised in COP29, allowing private sectors to enter the sector and facilitate green transition. COP30 aims to keep carbon markets as a priority and agree on rules to ensure transparency and credibility in the global carbon market. 

COP30 will play a major role in responding to the new national climate plans that countries will submit this year and charting the course for the next decade to meet commitments and targets under the Paris Agreement. The next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by countries will focus on deeper emission cuts and increased resilience. 

There should be a major focus on the Global South as people are still living in energy poverty. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 600 million live without electricity and 2.3 billion people across the globe do not have access to clean cooking. Numbers like this make it extremely difficult to hit the goals in our climate agreement. 

As COP30 will take place in Brazil, it also warrants a critical discussion on balancing environmental harmony vs the needs of the growing nation and including traditional people into the decision-making processes. 

Where does India stand? 

According to the statement by Permanent Representative to the United Nations, India will push for enhanced climate finance at the COP30. The developing world requires trillions of dollars for transitioning to a just climate system, but the developing world has fallen short of their financial obligations. This failure has led to significant economic, social and environmental repercussions that are borne disproportionately by the developing countries. India would also urgently need unrestricted access to affordable and climate technologies for developing nations and innovation must not be held hostage by artificial barriers imposed by developed nations. Access to these resources is instrumental in the global fight against climate change. 

India is also on track to fulfil its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Two of its targets, namely ‘to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level’ and ‘to achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030’ has already been achieved well ahead of time. 

While the Governments will play a major role in pulling together the successes of COP, it is the private sector that has to commit trillions towards the energy transition. To achieve neutralization of emissions, investments in energy transition, valuing our natural resources and utilising more inclusive policy mechanisms are essential. Discussions and actions from COP30 will lead to more and better jobs, higher wages, stronger economies, energy security and addressing the cause of climate change- all of which will help create a greener and better tomorrow.