At the 2025 UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, India made headlines – not for a bold emissions pledge, but for delaying it. The country has batteryplay-in postponed submitting its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035, raising serious questions about its role in global climate diplomacy. Despite already exceeding some of its 2030 clean energy targets and generating over half its electricity from non-fossil sources, India’s reliance on coal continues to draw sharp criticism.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav defended the delay, saying India is pushing for much larger climate financing from wealthy nations – calling not for billions but trillions in support. He argued that developing countries deserve more, especially given the historic responsibility of developed nations. This strong stance has resonated with other Global South countries, particularly amid skepticism about the United States’ climate leadership under President Donald Trump.
But the debate is harsh. Germanwatch, a leading environmental think tank, dropped India’s Climate Change Performance Index ranking from 10th to 23rd, citing execution gaps and continued coal dependence. While India has made great strides in solar and renewables, the looming question is: can its climate ambition keep pace with its activism? And will this moment of leverage translate into real gains by the time COP30 comes around?