Brazil: India has joined Brazil’s newly launched Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as an observer, reaffirming its commitment to collective global action for the protection of tropical forests. Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit of COP30 in Belem, Indian Ambassador to Brazil Dinesh Bhatia called for stronger international climate ambition, asserting that progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement has been “inadequate” and urging developed nations to accelerate emission cuts and fulfill long-pending financial pledges.
Marking ten years since the signing of the Paris Agreement, Ambassador Bhatia stressed that while developing countries continue to take decisive steps to curb emissions, “many nations’ NDCs (nationally determined contributions) remain insufficient.” He emphasized that developed countries responsible for a disproportionate share of historical emissions must move faster toward net-zero and even net-negative targets.
“While developing nations are doing their part, those who have historically overused the global carbon budget must not only accelerate reductions but also deliver on their promises of adequate, predictable, and equitable climate finance,” he said.
India welcomed Brazil’s creation of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, describing it as a “significant milestone” in fostering long-term global cooperation to conserve and restore tropical forests. The initiative, launched on Thursday, seeks to raise USD 125 billion from public and private sources to reward nations that protect forest ecosystems and curb deforestation.
As an observer, India affirmed that it views the TFFF as an instrument to strengthen the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, a foundation of global climate agreements since the 1992 Rio Summit.
Ambassador Bhatia highlighted India’s domestic progress in transitioning to clean energy, stating that non-fossil fuel-based power now makes up over half of the country’s total installed capacity, allowing India to achieve its revised NDC target five years ahead of schedule.
He noted that India’s forest and tree cover has increased to 25.17% of its total geographical area, resulting in an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between 2005 and 2021. “With nearly 200 GW of renewable energy capacity, India is now the world’s third-largest producer of renewable power,” Bhatia said, citing transformative progress in solar, wind, green hydrogen, and biofuel initiatives.
Reiterating India’s stance on climate equity, Bhatia stressed that the coming decade must be defined by implementation, resilience, and shared responsibility, not just lofty pledges. He underscored that adaptation to local climate risks and vulnerabilities is as vital as mitigation efforts, particularly for developing countries on the frontlines of global warming.
“Access to affordable finance, technology, and capacity building remains crucial for developing nations to realize ambitious climate goals,” he said. “Equitable, predictable, and concessional climate finance must remain the cornerstone of global climate action.”
Bhatia also spotlighted India’s global leadership through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, launched jointly with France in 2015, which now brings together over 120 nations to promote affordable solar energy and South-South cooperation.
“Together, let us ensure that the next decade of climate action is marked not merely by targets, but by concrete progress rooted in mutual trust, fairness, and shared responsibility,” he concluded, urging the world to turn promises into tangible results.