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India delays climate plan submission at COP30 amid funding disputes
India, the world's third-largest carbon emitter, has postponed submitting its updated climate action plan-known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)-until December, despite the ongoing UN climate summit (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The delay comes as global assessments label India's current climate efforts as "worryingly inadequate," while New Delhi insists its actions are sufficient.
Global pressure mounts as emissions targets fall short
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, 196 countries pledged to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C. However, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that current policies put the world on track for a 2.8°C temperature rise by 2100-far above the target. To meet the 1.5°C goal, annual emissions must drop by 35-55% by 2035 compared to 2019 levels. Yet, existing climate plans would only achieve a 12% reduction, even if fully implemented.
While around 120 nations have submitted updated NDCs, India remains among the holdouts. The original February deadline was extended to September after over 90% of countries missed it. With COP30 underway, expectations grew that remaining nations would finalize their plans-but India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced this week that the submission would not arrive until December.
India's stance: Historic responsibility and financial gaps
India has not publicly explained the delay, but officials emphasize a longstanding demand: developed nations must take greater responsibility for emissions cuts and provide substantial climate financing. In an Economic Times op-ed ahead of COP30, Yadav criticized endless negotiations without action, writing, "Global climate progress can't come from dialogue alone."
At the summit, Yadav reiterated that wealthy countries must achieve net-zero emissions sooner and deliver "trillions, not billions," in climate finance. Developing nations argue that without such support, more ambitious targets are unfeasible. The issue flared at last year's COP in Baku, where developed countries pledged $300 billion annually by 2035-a fraction of the $1 trillion demanded by poorer nations. Critics also note a lack of transparency in how funds will be disbursed, with concerns over reliance on private loans that could burden developing economies.
"Developed countries must reach net zero far earlier than current target dates and deliver new, additional, and concessional climate finance at a scale of trillions, not billions."
Bhupender Yadav, India's Environment Minister, at COP30
Debate over emerging economies' role in climate finance
Some developed nations, including the European Union, argue that fast-growing economies like China and India should contribute to global climate funding. EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra stated that countries with higher GDP per capita than most EU members "have the ability to chip in." India counters that its per capita emissions remain far below those of historical polluters.
India's mixed climate record: Progress and contradictions
India highlights its achievement of a key Paris Agreement target-sourcing 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels-years ahead of the 2030 deadline. However, independent analyses paint a grimmer picture. The Climate Action Tracker rates India's efforts as "highly insufficient," noting that coal still accounts for 75% of electricity generation-a figure that must drop to 19% to align with the 1.5°C goal.
A Climate Change Performance Index report released at COP30 ranked India 23rd out of 63 countries, a 13-place drop from last year, citing its continued reliance on coal. The UN's latest Emissions Gap Report also flagged India for the highest greenhouse gas emissions growth in 2024, surpassing China and Indonesia.
"India's national pathway is still anchored in coal, with no exit timeline, and new coal blocks continue to be auctioned."
GermanWatch, Climate Change Performance Index 2025
Fossil fuel phase-out debates loom over COP30
As negotiations progress, a proposed global roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels has become a flashpoint. India's updated NDC-now expected by year-end-will likely face scrutiny over its coal dependence. Whether international criticism or domestic energy demands will shape the final plan remains uncertain.
China, the world's top emitter and India's usual ally in climate talks, has already submitted its updated NDC. The divergence leaves India increasingly isolated as COP30 presses for bolder commitments from major polluters.
