Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav led the Indian delegation at the UNFCCC's Pre-COP31 meetings co-hosted by Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu. During the Leaders' Plenary in Fiji, Minister Yadav called for equal attention to adaptation, mitigation, and means of implementation as the world moves towards COP31, emphasizing that principles of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) must be upheld for meaningful climate action.
Minister Yadav stressed that there cannot be a 'one-size-fits-all' pathway to climate action, highlighting that local studies and assessments are crucial for finding solutions to emerging area-specific challenges. These solutions would indicate the required mitigation and adaptation measures and commensurate resources needed.
India offered to share its coastal resilience and space-based expertise with Pacific partners, noting its understanding of challenges faced by Pacific Island Countries due to India's vast coastline and islands. India has developed knowledge and expertise through premier institutions including Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). Specific capabilities include vulnerability assessment of coasts, mapping of shoreline changes, development of marine spatial plans, integrated management plans for coastal areas, and unlocking Blue Economy potential. India is also using its space ecosystem, Earth-observation capabilities, and space-based applications for shoreline monitoring, inundation assessment, cyclone and extreme-weather early warning, and climate-risk assessment.
Minister Yadav referenced India's existing cooperation with Pacific partners in areas including health and wellness, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, IT, agriculture, and capacity building. He specifically mentioned the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project as a strong reflection of how international cooperation and provision of implementation means can translate into tangible resilience on the ground. The Pre-COP meetings are preparatory sessions held before the annual UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026.