India's Climate Plan Delay at COP30: A Growing Concern

Fri Nov 21 2025 09:49:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid rising emissions and international scrutiny, India's failure to submit its climate action plan at COP30 has drawn sharp criticism, raising questions about its commitment to global climate goals.

At the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil, India's delay in submitting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) has raised eyebrows. As the third-largest carbon emitter, India’s inaction contrasts sharply with the participation of around 120 other countries who have updated their climate plans. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav hinted that India's plan will be submitted only by the end of December, emphasizing the need for richer nations to take more responsibility. Meanwhile, concerns about India's heavy reliance on coal for energy persist, eclipsing its strides towards non-fossil fuel energy.

At this year's UN climate summit (COP30), underway in Brazil's Belem city, all eyes are on India - the world's third largest carbon emitter.

India has not yet submitted a key climate plan that countries are required to do every five years, even as international assessments have deemed India's climate action as being worryingly inadequate. Delhi has argued otherwise.

Known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the updated plan from each member country to the UN Framework Climate Convention (UNFCC) is expected to have more ambitious carbon reduction targets as the world has failed to make the required level of cuts to avoid dangerous global warming.

So far, around 120 of the 196 member countries of the UNFCCC have submitted their updated plans, and India is among the remaining ones.

The Paris climate agreement signed in 2015 aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2C and to strive for 1.5C to avert drastic climate change.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that by 2035, annual emissions must be reduced by 35% and 55% from 2019 levels to align with the goals of the Paris agreement.

However, emissions have risen almost every year since the agreement, and the climate plans submitted to the UNFCCC until 10 November indicate a projected reduction of only around 12% by 2035, contingent on countries fully implementing their policies.

UNEP warns that current policies are on track for a 2.8C increase in warming this century, underscoring the need for more ambitious targets.

The first deadline for the updated climate plan (NDC3) was in February, extended to September, after over 90% of member countries failed to meet it.

While the spotlight is on major emitters like China, India, and the European Union, given US President Trump's announcement to exit the Paris agreement, many countries still missed the September deadline. Now, while some countries have begun submitting, India’s environment minister clarified that its plan would only be revealed by the end of December.

India's hesitance raises questions about its commitment to the climate cause, especially as the developing nation argues for a more substantial financial contribution from wealthier nations to avoid compromising its economic growth.

A week before COP30 commenced, Yadav highlighted in an op-ed the notion that negotiations alone wouldn't suffice and called for immediate action from developed countries for scaled financial support.

Despite India’s claim of already achieving a significant milestone of sourcing 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels ahead of the 2030 deadline, concerns persist regarding its ongoing reliance on coal, which constitutes approximately 75% of its electricity generation.

Independent assessments deem India’s current climate goals as highly insufficient and call attention to its lack of a national timeline for transitioning away from coal.

With growing scrutiny from both global partners and the UN, the coming months will determine the extent to which India's updated climate plan will address these criticisms, as the deadline for submission approaches.