India's Climate Standoff: Delayed Strategy at COP30 Raises Global Concerns

Fri Nov 21 2025 12:56:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

India, the world's third-largest carbon emitter, faces scrutiny at COP30 in Brazil for not submitting its updated climate action plan, seen as a lack of urgency in addressing global warming.

At the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, India's delay in submitting its key climate plan has raised eyebrows globally. Despite being one of the top carbon emitters and having previously met significant pledges, critics argue India's reliance on coal and overall climate action remains insufficient. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav signals intentions to submit a plan by December, but questions arise regarding India's commitment to a more ambitious climate strategy amid calls for more support from developed nations.

At this year's UN climate summit (COP30), under way in Brazil's Belem city, all eyes are on India - the world's third-largest carbon emitter.

India has not yet submitted a key climate plan that countries are required to do every five years, even as international assessments have deemed India's climate action as being worryingly inadequate. Delhi has argued otherwise.

Known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the updated plan from each member country to the UN Framework Climate Convention (UNFCC) is expected to have more ambitious carbon reduction targets as the world has failed to make the required level of cuts to avoid dangerous global warming.

So far, around 120 of the 196 member countries of the UNFCCC have submitted their updated plans and India is among the remaining ones.

... (Content continues with detailed analysis of India's climate strategy, criticism faced, and the international context.) ...