LocationsAs COP 29 begins, India’s partnership with the United Nations Development Programme illustrates the power of international collaboration in driving forward climate commitments.
What’s Cooking at COP 29 This Year?
November 11, 2024
The stakes for climate action—and, crucially, climate financing—have never been higher.
From intense heatwaves across Asia and floods in the UAE and Brazil to wildfires in Canada and cyclones in South Asia, extreme weather has inflicted over $41 billion in damages since COP28. While these events affect nations worldwide, developing countries face the most severe fallout due to reliance on agriculture, weak infrastructure, and limited access to technology.
COP29, starting today in Baku, Azerbaijan, is an opportunity to reset climate finance for those who need it most.
India’s Role as a Leader for the Global South
As the host of the Global South Summit for three consecutive years, India has stepped up as a leader, advocating for climate action, sustainable development, and equity for the Global South through its domestic actions.
India presented its initial Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) at COP21 and updated its plans at COP26 in 2022, committing to net-zero emissions by 2070. The clean energy target was increased to 50% by 2030, with a new goal to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels. As of September 2024, India has 201.5 GW of its 452.7 GW capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, or 44.5% of the total.
There is strong public backing for this in India. According to the People’s Climate Vote survey, 76% of Indians support a rapid move away from fossil fuels.
But challenges remain. While India ranks fourth globally in renewable energy and fifth in solar power, many regions remain coal-dependent, facing economic challenges in transitioning to renewables. But the good news is that India’s shift to renewables is happening in states not traditionally associated with energy production, like the Western and Southern regions, showcasing new leaders in India’s climate journey.
India is also part of the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, advocating for ethical and just sourcing of resources essential to clean technology, ensuring that the push for renewables includes a push for justice.
The updated NDC also supports sustainable lifestyles through the Mission LiFE initiative, which inspired a UN resolution in March 2024. Last year in November, UNDP and the NITI Aayog had hosted ‘LIFEathon’, a hybrid hackathon with young people from across the world to contribute ideas and innovations to promote sustainable living and climate positive behaviour. India's National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030. Other initiatives include a national solar rooftop policy and support for zero-emission vehicles. India is also active in international collaborations, including the International Solar Alliance and the G20 presidency, to promote collective climate action.
Pushing for Equitable Climate Finance Mechanisms
India is also pushing for fair climate finance mechanisms and ambitious commitments from developed nations. The need for climate finance, after all, is enormous, particularly for countries with limited resources.
Although $1.3 trillion was mobilized globally for climate finance in 2021–2022, it’s a mere fraction of the $4.35 trillion required annually by 2030 to meet climate targets. And in 2021–2022, only 3.7% of this finance reached Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA, with just over 2% directed to the Least Developed Countries. The 2021 report from the UN Standing Committee on Finance estimates that developing countries will need nearly $6 trillion by 2030 for their climate action plans.
India, for example, needs approximately USD 2.5 trillion to achieve its current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030, along with nearly USD 673 billion for adaptation financing within the same timeframe.
Keeping this urgent need in mind, during COP 29, member countries will negotiate a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance starting at $100 billion per year, with the specific needs of developing nations at the forefront. According to UN models, developing countries need approximately $1.1 trillion by 2025 and $1.8 trillion by 2030 for climate action. The NCQG seeks to create a financial framework for supporting developing nations post-2025.
In February, India called for developed nations to contribute at least $1 trillion annually—primarily through grants and concessional finance—to support the Global South’s climate efforts.
India and UNDP - Partnering for Impact
In India, UNDP is working with the Government across sectors to drive low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive development focused on sustainable natural resource management. Through partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Government of Japan and other international donors, UNDP is implementing projects that directly support India’s national goals and global climate commitments. These initiatives not only advance energy efficiency but also foster South-South cooperation and innovative public-private collaborations to address climate challenges.
For instance, in the remote Kyiem Village in Meghalaya, where water scarcity and deforestation threaten livelihoods, UNDP introduced a solar-powered motorized sewing machine for local entrepreneur Bristina Ryngjah. This doubled Ryngjah’s productivity and allowed her to operate sustainably despite frequent power cuts. Her success story is just one of many as UNDP scales similar Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) applications like solar-powered spinning wheels, looms, and reeling systems across rural India. These clean energy solutions improve working conditions, boost production, and drive economic independence, creating a resilient, sustainable economy that benefits women and communities alike.
In Madhya Pradesh, UNDP has partnered with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to install solar PV systems in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), addressing the long-standing issue of unreliable electricity in rural health services. For example, Bhaukhedi’s PHC now benefits from consistent power for critical medical services, vaccine refrigeration, and extended service hours, ensuring patients can access reliable healthcare close to home. Similarly, Abidabad’s PHC now operates seamlessly and is poised to expand its services to include a maternity ward, thanks to the solar installation. These initiatives are helping India meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on health and SDG 7 on energy, by integrating sustainable power sources that enhance healthcare quality, cut operational costs, and prepare communities for future climate challenges.
UNDP has also been supporting the government of India to showcase its progress on global platforms through Biennial Updates and Transparency Reports. On the ground, it is supporting India’s adaptation efforts. For example, in Navghar, Maharashtra, UNDP India’s climate resilience project, in partnership with the Green Climate Fund and the Government of India, empowers local women essential for local livelihoods and climate adaptation. From struggling with challenges like illegal mangrove cutting, flooding, and declining fish populations, the community now benefits from sustainable practices introduced through the project. By forming a Mangrove Co-Management Committee, women’s Self-Help Groups received training in crab farming and mangrove conservation, transforming local livelihoods with year-round income while protecting the coastal environment.
A Model for Global South Climate Action
India’s collaboration with UNDP and other Global South countries in climate action is demonstrating that sustainable development and climate resilience are achievable through impactful partnerships and strategic action.
As a potential host for COP33, the next few years present a unique opportunity for India to lead the charge in global climate action.
The Baku climate talks present an exciting opportunity to establish a new global climate finance target to support low-carbon growth and climate adaptation, especially in the Global South, significantly accelerating climate action in the region and fostering a more sustainable future for all.
