New Delhi: India will pursue solution-oriented, equitable and practical climate action at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav outlined India’s priorities for the upcoming climate conference during a media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday. He also highlighted the key outcomes of India’s participation in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The minister said India would approach COP31 with a solution-oriented vision, focusing on practical solutions for the Global South. Capacity building, knowledge sharing and geography-specific solutions will remain central to India’s approach.
He added that India would work closely with developing country groups, including the G-77 and China, the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) and BASIC.
Climate Finance to Remain India’s Key Priority at COP31
Bhupender Yadav reaffirmed India’s commitment to making positive contributions to global efforts towards achieving the objectives of the climate convention and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
He said climate finance would be one of India’s key priorities at COP31. India will seek a decision to commence the Climate Finance Work Programme, emphasising that developed countries must fulfil their financial obligations under Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement.
The minister stressed that climate finance should be predictable, largely public and concessional, and should not increase the debt burden of developing countries.
India will also push for mitigation discussions and the Global Stocktake process to remain Party-driven, facilitative and non-punitive. The country will emphasise respect for the nationally determined nature of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and oppose the introduction of new top-down targets.
Read also: India Calls for COP31 to Shift Focus From Climate Targets to Faster Implementation
Adaptation, Technology Transfer and Just Transition Among India’s Focus Areas
Adaptation will remain another major priority for India at COP31. The country will advocate for voluntary indicators under the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), ensuring that these indicators do not become conditions for accessing climate finance.
India will also seek increased financial support for adaptation measures, particularly in developing countries.
On the issue of just transition, India will support the continuation of the Just Transition Work Programme through a Party-driven mechanism. The country views just transition through the principles of climate justice, the right to development and access to affordable energy.
Technology transfer will also feature prominently in India’s negotiations. Bhupender Yadav said technology transfer is an obligation of developed countries and that barriers related to costs, intellectual property rights (IPR) and trade must be addressed.
India will further maintain that participation in carbon markets should remain voluntary. It will also emphasise that voluntary initiatives under the Presidency Action Agenda should remain separate from formal negotiations and that uniform global targets must take individual national circumstances into account.
Agriculture, Food Security and Farmers’ Livelihoods to Feature at COP31
India will highlight the close connection between climate adaptation in agriculture, food security and the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers.
The country’s engagements at COP31 will include LeadIT 3.0, in partnership with Sweden, along with high-level side events on coastal resilience and panel discussions on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and forests.
The minister said India would play a constructive and bridge-building role at the Antalya conference, working towards outcomes that move global climate efforts beyond commitments towards effective implementation and adequate support.
India Reaffirms Commitment to Global Biodiversity Framework at CBD COP17
Briefing the media on India’s participation in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), held in Yerevan, Armenia, Bhupender Yadav said India had reaffirmed its commitment to the effective and equitable implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
India emphasised the importance of national priorities, circumstances and legislative frameworks, community participation, fair and equitable benefit-sharing, and adequate and predictable financial resources.
During the negotiations, India strongly advocated the fulfilment of developed countries’ financial obligations under Article 20(2) of the Convention.
The country opposed any mandatory expansion of the contributor base or the shifting of existing financial responsibilities onto developing countries. It also called for accessible, adequate and equitable financing for biodiversity conservation.
On Digital Sequence Information (DSI), India highlighted the importance of fair and equitable benefit-sharing through the multilateral mechanism, including the Cali Fund. It also stressed the need to respect national Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) frameworks and sovereign rights.
India further advocated a Party-driven, facilitative, non-intrusive and non-punitive approach to the global review of KMGBF implementation, taking national circumstances and priorities into account.
The minister also highlighted the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to biodiversity conservation and implementation.
India Highlights Land Restoration and Drought Resilience at UNCCD COP17
Speaking about India’s participation in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the minister said India highlighted land restoration as a critical priority for food and water security, biodiversity, livelihoods and rural economies.
After being elected Chair of the Asia-Pacific Regional Group, India reiterated its commitment to restoring more than 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
The country also called for diversified, adequate, predictable and sustained international financial support for land restoration and drought resilience.
Bhupender Yadav said India advocated a shift from conventional drought response measures towards building long-term drought resilience. It also supported science-based and community-led restoration of rangelands while recognising pastoralists as important custodians and partners in conservation efforts.
During the conference, India launched its first Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems of India. The publication reflects the country’s science-based and landscape-specific approach to ecological restoration.
India Calls for Equity, Science-Based Solutions and International Cooperation
Concluding his remarks, Bhupender Yadav said India’s engagement across the three international processes reflects its commitment to equity, respect for national circumstances, science-based solutions and adequate means of implementation, particularly for developing countries.
At COP31, India will work towards balanced and practical outcomes that strengthen climate action, implementation, financial support and international cooperation.
Senior officials present during the media briefing included Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Narendra Bhooshan; Additional Secretaries Amandeep Garg and Ashutosh Agnihotri; Joint Secretaries Rajat Agarwal and Uday Chaudhari; Inspector General of Forests Clement Ben; and other senior ministry officials.
Read also: Bhupender Yadav Releases 4 Publications on Himalayan Biodiversity, Stresses Community Participation
