India has called for a significant acceleration of global climate action, stressing that enhanced climate finance and the faster deployment of clean energy are critical to meeting international climate goals, according to a LiveMint report.
Speaking at the silver jubilee edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2026, organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav emphasised that the world remains off track to limit warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement, and urgent measures are needed to bridge the gap.
“Emissions reduction remains insufficient, adaptation finance remains inadequate and sustainable development goal implementation is uneven,” Yadav said, urging nations to move “from pledges to performance, from targets to trajectories, from ambition to accountability.”
Call for Tripling Renewable Capacity and Doubling Efficiency
India stressed the need for countries to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements across sectors, including industry, transport, and households. Furthermore, the minister highlighted the importance of scaling up adaptation finance — funds to help countries cope with climate impacts such as floods, droughts and extreme weather.
Amid the discussion, Yadav reiterated India’s domestic climate goals, which include:
- Achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030,
- Reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels,
- Reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.
Climate Finance: A Global Imperative
The minister also called for reforms in multilateral development banks to unlock trillions of dollars in climate finance, stressing that ambition must be paired with accessible, transparent and predictable funding systems to support mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Experts at the summit noted that climate change must be democratised beyond elite discussions, urging localised solutions that emphasise both mitigation and resilience.
Context: Bridging the Climate Investment Gap
India’s call comes amid broader concerns over the global climate finance gap. Recent surveys indicate that while investment flows into mature sectors like solar and wind have improved, critical areas such as adaptation, urban infrastructure and climate-vulnerable industries remain underfunded.
Analysts also highlight that achieving India’s own climate transition targets — including 50% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero by 2070 — will require innovative financial solutions and massive mobilisation of capital both domestically and internationally.
By Mint
