There is no “one size fits all”, environment minister says at climate summits ahead of COP31

Referring to India’s long coastline and islands, Bhupender Yadav said the country understands the challenges of Pacific island nations. File | Photo credit: ANI

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has called for equal focus on adaptation, mitigation and implementation modalities as the world heads to November’s UN Climate Change Conference or COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey.

The principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) must be followed “in letter and spirit”, Mr Yadav said.

Addressing the leaders’ plenary in Fiji, where he is leading the Indian delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ahead of COP31, Mr Yadav said there could be no “one-size-fits-all” path to climate change. Local studies and assessments are key to identifying new challenges, mitigation and adaptation measures and needed resources, he said, a press release from the environment ministry said.

Talks in Nadi, Fiji, and the atoll nation of Tuvalu, co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu, are a precursor to COP31 in Turkey.

Referring to India’s long coastline and islands, Mr Yadav said the country understood the problems of Pacific island countries. Institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation, the National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management and the National Center for Coastal Research have built expertise in coastal vulnerability assessment, coastal change mapping, maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management. India also uses space-based Earth observation for coastal monitoring, flood assessment, cyclones, early warning of extreme weather and climate risk assessment, he said, and offered to share this knowledge with Pacific partner countries.

He added that India has worked with Pacific nations in health, renewable energy, resilient infrastructure, early warning, information technology, agriculture and capacity building. Referring to his visit to Tuvalu, he said the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project showed how international cooperation, especially providing means for implementation, could translate into resilience on the ground.

The UNFCCC summit, to be held from November 9-20, is likely to focus on large-scale adaptation finance, easier access to climate finance for vulnerable countries, and stronger national climate and fossil fuel commitments.

Türkiye is chairing the summit while Australia is chairing the negotiations.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 22:10 IST