In Focus by The Hindu In Focus-Parley | Should India take global leadership on climate change?
Oct 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Hisham Mundol, Chief Adviser at the Environmental Defense Fund, and Ulka Kelkar, Executive Program Director at WRI India, delve into India's potential role in global climate leadership. They explore the challenges and expectations for COP30 amidst geopolitical shifts. The conversation highlights India's significant advancements in renewable energy and the need for tailored climate finance strategies. They also discuss practical measures for bridging the funding gap, framing climate action as an investment opportunity, and the importance of differentiated responsibilities in climate commitments.
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COP30: Expect Implementation Over Grand Promises
- Cautious optimism: COP30 may not yield sweeping new promises but can deliver concrete cooperation and implementation.
- India and others can form an “axis of good” to advance climate tech and forest collaboration.
Action Beyond Negotiations Still Needs COP
- Much climate progress now happens outside the UNFCCC through national, sectoral and subnational action.
- COP remains vital to secure finance, technology and multilateral mechanisms that countries cannot create alone.
Use COP To Lock In Means Of Implementation
- Use COP to mobilize means of implementation: finance, technology and skills for countries that need them.
- Persistently press historical emitters to contribute while also building new finance sources and pipelines.
