THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 6, 2026

India on Tuesday called for equal attention to adaptation, mitigation and means of implementation as countries gear up for COP31, asserting that climate action must be guided by equity and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), while rejecting a “one-size-fits-all” approach to tackling climate change.

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, leading the Indian delegation at the UNFCCC’s Pre-COP31 meetings co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu, made the remarks while addressing the Leaders’ Plenary in Fiji.

Yadav said meaningful and sustained climate action requires solutions tailored to the specific circumstances and vulnerabilities of individual countries and regions.

 “There cannot be a one-size-fits-all pathway to climate action,” he said, stressing the importance of local studies and assessments to identify emerging challenges and determine appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures, along with the resources required to implement them.

The minister emphasised that the principles of equity and CBDR-RC must be upheld “in letter and spirit” as the global community advances towards COP31.

Highlighting India’s own experience with climate vulnerabilities, Yadav said the country, with its vast coastline and numerous islands, fully understands the challenges confronting Pacific Island Countries.

He said India has developed extensive expertise in ocean science through institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR).

India has built capabilities in areas including coastal vulnerability assessment, mapping shoreline changes, marine spatial planning, integrated coastal-area management and unlocking the potential of the Blue Economy, he said.

Yadav also highlighted the growing use of India’s space ecosystem, Earth-observation capabilities and space-based applications for shoreline monitoring, inundation assessment, cyclone and extreme-weather early warning, and climate-risk assessment.

Offering to share these capabilities with Pacific partners, he said India was ready to contribute its coastal resilience and space-based expertise to help address the region’s climate challenges.

The minister said India has consistently stood with its Pacific partners and is working closely with them across sectors such as health and wellness, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, information technology, agriculture and capacity building.

Referring to his recent visit to Tuvalu, Yadav said the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project demonstrated how international cooperation and adequate means of implementation can translate into tangible resilience on the ground.

The experience, he said, further reinforced the importance of developing local solutions to emerging climate challenges.

Pre-COP is a preparatory meeting held a few weeks ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Conference. COP31 is scheduled to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November this year.