Bhupender Yadav demands equitable climate action at G20 Environmental Meet

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, represented India at the G20 Climate and Environmental Sustainability Working Group Ministerial Meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa. Extending gratitude to South Africa for advancing the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’, the Minister urged nations to work together toward a future rooted in equality, shared responsibility and environmental commitment.

Marking a decade of the Paris Agreement, Bhupender Yadav noted that many countries, including India, have made significant progress toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with India even achieving several goals ahead of schedule. Emphasizing India’s role as a constructive global partner, he called on the G20 to bridge the gap between ambition and implementation while respecting each nation’s capacities.

He reaffirmed the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)” and urged developed nations to view climate finance for developing countries as a duty, not a pledge.

The Minister highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of combining “back to the basics” with a “march to the future,” stressing the convergence of ecosystem-based solutions and futuristic technologies for sustainability. He underscored the need for knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and capacity building as vital tools for global climate action.

Bhupender Yadav also advocated for a “whole-of-society” approach and pro-planet lifestyles to achieve tangible results, commending South Africa’s inclusive and collaborative framework. He reiterated India’s support for ecosystem-based and participatory conservation models while cautioning against the commodification of biodiversity.

On climate change and just transitions, the Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to integrating climate goals with development, anchored in equity. He further supported cooperative capacity-building for air quality management while emphasizing that uniform solutions cannot fit diverse national contexts.