New Delhi: India has urged developed nations to accelerate their net-zero targets and begin working toward net-negative emissions, arguing that current global climate efforts are insufficient to slow the pace of global warming. The call came ahead of the COP30 Climate Conference in Belem, Brazil, as India underlined the widening gap between global commitments and actual progress on emission reductions.
Speaking at the Leaders’ Summit in Belem, India’s Ambassador to Brazil, Dinesh Bhatia, emphasized that developed nations are failing to contribute proportionately to global climate mitigation efforts. He warned that without stronger and more equitable action from industrialized countries, the world risks overshooting the 1.5°C temperature limit set under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
“While developing nations continue to make significant strides in cutting emissions, those who have historically consumed the largest share of the global carbon budget must take the lead,” Bhatia said. “Developed countries need to reach net-zero much sooner than their current targets and invest meaningfully in achieving net-negative emissions.”
Bhatia reiterated that the developed world’s delayed timelines for carbon neutrality are inconsistent with their historical responsibilities. He argued that nations that industrialized early and contributed disproportionately to global carbon buildup should now overcompensate by going beyond neutrality, helping restore global climate balance.
Under the net-zero framework, emissions released into the atmosphere are balanced by an equivalent amount absorbed through natural or technological means. A net-negative state, however, means that a country’s total absorption of carbon surpasses its emissions—an advanced goal no nation has yet pledged to achieve.
Currently, the global community aims to achieve net-zero by 2050, though timelines vary: many developed nations target between 2040 and 2050, China by 2060, and India by 2070. Yet, global progress remains dangerously off track. Studies indicate that emissions must fall 43% below 2019 levels by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C goal alive but at present, reductions of even 2% by 2030 seem unlikely.
Despite being a developing nation, India highlighted its strong track record in climate action, often meeting targets well ahead of schedule. Ambassador Bhatia noted that between 2005 and 2020, India cut the emissions intensity of its GDP by 36%, surpassing its commitment.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has consistently advanced along a low-carbon development pathway,” he said. “Today, non-fossil fuel power sources make up more than 50% of India’s total installed capacity, reaching our updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target five years early.”
Bhatia also pointed out that India’s forest and tree cover has expanded steadily, now accounting for 25.17% of the country’s land area. Between 2005 and 2021, this created an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, placing India among the top three nations globally in annual net forest gain, according to the FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025.
With over 200 GW of renewable energy capacity, India has emerged as the world’s third-largest producer of renewables, driven by ambitious programmes in solar, wind, green hydrogen, and biofuels. These initiatives, Bhatia said, are transforming India’s energy landscape into one that is sustainable and globally competitive.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to multilateral climate action, Bhatia said the country continues to uphold the Paris Agreement and the principles of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).
“India remains a firm believer in collective climate action,” he declared. “We are committed to working with all nations in developing solutions that are ambitious, fair, and inclusive while respecting each country’s unique circumstances and capabilities.”
He also announced India’s support for Brazil’s new “Tropical Forests Forever” initiative, a global mechanism aimed at protecting tropical forests through sustained international collaboration. India will join the initiative as an Observer, reinforcing its commitment to biodiversity and forest conservation.
As the two-week COP30 Summit begins in Belem on Monday, India’s intervention sets the tone for renewed discussions on equity, accountability, and climate justice. With doubts persisting over whether the UN-led negotiation framework can deliver meaningful results, India’s stance underscores the urgency of bridging the North-South divide in global climate action.
Bhatia’s message was clear: while developing nations are doing their part, the burden of leadership now lies squarely with the industrialized world to act faster, go further, and make the planet’s survival a true global priority.