India’s Role at COP29 in Baku
Advocating for Climate Finance and Adaptation
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) began in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 11 and will continue until November 22. India is actively participating, focusing on climate finance, especially from developed countries, which are major carbon emitters.
India is hosting side events at its pavilion in collaboration with the UN and other organizations, aiming for high-level participation and outreach. The country emphasizes the need for adequate finance for the Global South, highlighting that developed nations have a greater historical responsibility for emissions.
India stresses that COP29 should not impose undue obligations on developing nations and should balance investments in mitigation with the urgent need for adaptation, particularly for vulnerable communities. The country advocates for climate finance to be adequate, predictable, accessible, grant-based, low-interest, and long-term.
On energy transition, India insists it should be just and nationally determined. As a nation vulnerable to climate impacts, India expects COP29 to focus on enhancing adaptation actions and resilience. India also calls for addressing “loss and damage” related to climate impacts, seeking additional commitments for loss and damage funds.
At COP26 in 2021, India made a five-part “Panchamrit” pledge, including reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Green energy for climate mitigation is a global focus, gaining momentum worldwide.
Doubts Revealed
COP29 -: COP29 is the 29th Conference of the Parties, a big meeting where countries talk about how to fight climate change. It’s like a global gathering to discuss ways to protect our planet.
Baku -: Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan, a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It’s where the COP29 meeting is happening.
Climate Finance -: Climate finance is money that helps countries deal with climate change. It can be used for projects that reduce pollution or help people adapt to changes in the climate.
Global South -: The Global South refers to countries that are usually less wealthy and are mostly located in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, including India. These countries often need more help to deal with climate change.
Mitigation and Adaptation -: Mitigation means taking actions to reduce the causes of climate change, like cutting down on pollution. Adaptation means making changes to live with the effects of climate change, like building stronger homes to withstand storms.
Loss and Damage Funds -: Loss and damage funds are money set aside to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, like floods or droughts. It’s like a safety net for when things go wrong.
Just Energy Transition -: A just energy transition means moving to cleaner energy sources in a way that is fair to everyone, especially workers and communities that depend on old energy sources like coal.
