Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to skip the upcoming COP29 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Azerbaijan due to scheduling conflicts, according to sources. This decision comes as India prepares to participate through a delegation led by Environment and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Key Points
- Modi’s absence rules out a potential meeting with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, following interest from Islamabad after India’s recent diplomatic engagement through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
- Other prominent global leaders like US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and French President Emmanuel Macron are also expected to miss the conference.
- India will present its national statement between November 19-20, with other nations, including the Like Minded Developing Country (LMDC) group, also speaking during this timeframe.
Will Modi’s Absence Impact Climate Talks?
Modi’s attendance at past climate summits has been significant, like during COP26 in Glasgow, where he outlined ambitious climate goals for India, such as achieving carbon neutrality by 2070. His absence at COP29 raises questions about how it might affect India’s role and the influence of developing nations at the summit.
India’s primary focus at COP29 will likely revolve around:
- Advocating for increased climate finance from developed countries, emphasizing the need for the promised $1 trillion to support developing nations.
- Pushing for a fair and ambitious agreement on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) for the post-2025 period.
- Highlighting India’s climate actions and the potential for future leadership in global green initiatives, following Modi’s previous proposal to host COP34 in 2028.
The conference will also feature the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, a platform for heads of state to discuss national strategies on climate action. Despite Modi’s anticipated absence, India’s position on climate finance and emission reductions will still be represented by Minister Yadav.
Modi has historically used such platforms to drive forward India’s climate agenda, making his likely absence at COP29 a notable shift from his active participation in COP21, COP26, and COP28. Whether this will affect the conference’s outcomes, particularly in areas where India seeks greater commitments from developed nations, remains to be seen.
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