Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav has called for closing gaps in climate action, fulfilling existing commitments and accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement at the upcoming COP31 climate conference.

Addressing the plenary discussion on COP31 priorities at the UNFCCC Pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji, the Minister said the success of the conference should be measured by concrete progress in implementation, delivery of support to those in need and scaling up existing climate solutions.

Yadav is leading the Indian delegation at the preparatory meeting, co-hosted by Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu.

The Minister began his address by commending the people of Tuvalu for their efforts to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. He said their efforts offered hope and demonstrated the importance of collective action in addressing the global climate crisis.

Highlighting the long-term objectives established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, Yadav stressed that achieving the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require adequate means of implementation.

He said the focus should now be on identifying the gaps that hinder progress and accelerating efforts to achieve the agreed climate goals.

Referring to the COP31 presidencies’ emphasis on consensus, decision-making and implementation, the Minister said countries broadly agree on the long-term objectives of global climate cooperation. However, he called for greater understanding of the gaps between scientific knowledge and traditional practices, between practices and ethics, and between available resources and the needs of communities.

On decision-making, Yadav emphasised that countries must fulfil their existing commitments under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement in both letter and spirit. He also called for enabling all parties to meet their respective obligations.

On implementation, the Minister urged countries to prioritise areas where the need is greatest and the impact of climate action can be clearly felt. He stressed the importance of capacity building and called on countries to share concrete examples of successful climate initiatives every year.

These examples, he said, should demonstrate effective emission reduction measures, large-scale adaptation efforts and the delivery of adequate support for climate action.

Yadav added that consistently sharing and scaling up successful initiatives would help translate international climate commitments into tangible results on the ground.

He said the success of COP31 in Antalya should not be judged merely by the announcement of new targets or declarations, but by whether implementation accelerates, support reaches those who need it most and existing solutions are expanded.

The Pre-COP31 meeting is a preparatory gathering held ahead of the annual UN Climate Change Conference, which is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, in November.