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India seeks equal focus on adaptation at Pre-COP31 in Fiji

By CAShorts DeskPublished Updated Source: The Hindu (Environment Ministry statement)

India seeks equal focus on adaptation at Pre-COP31 in Fiji
Illustration (AI-generated)

India's Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, addressing the UNFCCC Pre-COP31 meetings in Fiji, called for equal weight to adaptation, mitigation and means of implementation. He said equity and CBDR-RC must be upheld and no single climate pathway suits all nations. The talks, co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu, precede COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 9–20.

Syllabus: Prelims · Environment & Ecology; GS3 · Environment & Conservation; GS2 · Groupings & Agreements

Why it matters

Climate talks are about more than cutting emissions. Countries also need to protect people from climate impacts, and that takes money, technology and skills. India wants all three, cutting emissions, adapting to impacts and the support behind both, to get equal attention. Pacific leaders want these talks to draw the world's attention to life on the frontline of climate change, and India's minister said that India, with its own long coastline and islands, understands their challenges. India offered to share its know-how in using satellites to watch shorelines, flooding and cyclones. COP31 next month is likely to focus on adaptation finance and easier access to climate money for vulnerable countries.

Prelims pointers

  • CBDR-RC (Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities) appears with equity in Article 3.1 of the UNFCCC, which asks developed countries to take the lead.
  • UNFCCC: a 1992 treaty in force since 1994; its Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body and normally meets every year.
  • Paris Agreement (2015), Article 2.2: it is to be implemented to reflect equity and CBDR-RC, in the light of different national circumstances.
  • Paris Agreement, Article 7: a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
  • Means of implementation, in UNFCCC usage: finance, technology transfer and capacity building; India wants it weighed equally with adaptation and mitigation.
  • Antalya, the COP31 venue, lies on Türkiye's Mediterranean coast; Nadi, a Pre-COP venue, is on Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island; Tuvalu is a low-lying atoll nation.
  • Institutions India cited: ISRO (Department of Space), the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (Environment Ministry) and the National Centre for Coastal Research (Ministry of Earth Sciences).

Practise a UPSC-style question

With reference to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), consider the following statements:

1. It was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994.

2. Its Conference of the Parties, the supreme decision-making body, normally meets once every two years.

3. Its Article 3.1 asks developed country Parties to take the lead in combating climate change.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a) 1 and 2 only
  2. (b) 2 and 3 only
  3. (c) 1 and 3 only
  4. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

1 is correct: the Convention was adopted in 1992 and came into force in 1994. 2 is incorrect: the COP normally meets every year, which is why COP31 follows COP30. 3 is correct: Article 3.1 bases action on equity and CBDR-RC and asks developed countries to take the lead.

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