No ‘one size fits all’, says Environment Minister at Pre-COP31 climate summit meetings

Referring to India’s long coastline and islands, Bhupender Yadav said the country understood the challenges of Pacific Island countries. File | Photo Credit: ANI

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has called for equal attention to adaptation, mitigation, and means of implementation as the world heads towards the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP31 summit in Antalya in Türkiye in November.

The principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) must be upheld “in letter and spirit”, Mr. Yadav said.

Addressing the Leaders’ Plenary in Fiji, where he is leading India’s delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Pre-COP31 meetings, Mr. Yadav said there could be no “one size fits all” pathway to climate action. Local studies and assessments, he said, were key to identifying emerging challenges, mitigation and adaptation measures, and the resources needed, a press statement from the Environment Ministry said.