Greater flexibility needed to bridge differences at COP31: Bhupender Yadav

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said COP31 should chart a clear path for greater engagement, technical cooperation and targeted support to help countries build climate-related capabilities

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday called for greater flexibility, pragmatism, and mutual respect among member countries to bridge remaining differences and secure ambitious and balanced outcomes at this year's UN climate conference, also called COP31.

COP31 is scheduled to be held in November in Turkiye's Antalya.

He made the remarks while addressing a plenary discussion in Fiji, part of the pre-COP31 meetings co-hosted by Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu.

Pre-COP is a preparatory meeting held a few weeks before the conference.

Yadav also stated that India expects COP31 to chart a definitive way forward to enhance engagement, technical cooperation and targeted support for building capabilities.

India stands ready for open and transparent dialogue to resolve these issues in the run-up to COP31 to ensure "a balanced, equitable, and historic outcome" for the global community, particularly the most vulnerable, according to the minister.

He further emphasised that climate multilateralism can be strengthened at COP31 through an inclusive, consultative and consensus-based approach.

Moreover, India firmly believes that implementation must respect nationally determined pathways, allowing each country to transition according to its unique national circumstances and development imperatives, Yadav said.

The minister added that while global goals are shared, greater convergence is needed on approaches to achieving them.

"The time has come to demonstrate flexibility on all sides," he said.