India seeks a ‘just transition mechanism’ at climate talks

India, along with a group of developing countries, demanded the establishment of a ‘just transition mechanism’ a day before talks at the ongoing climate summit are expected to conclude. He emphasized that financing for climate change adaptation is a “core investment” and not an “optional add-on”, and that the latter is currently underfunded.

The Just Transition Work Programme, established at COP27 (in 2022) and operational at COP28 (in 2023), is designed as a dedicated forum for livelihood job creation in renewable energy sectors for those currently working in fossil fuel-dependent industries.

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“A just transition necessarily includes strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity, creating jobs, protecting livelihoods, eradicating poverty, ensuring food security and providing social protection. Countries must be able to design and implement their own sustainable development paths, consistent with their national priorities and circumstances,” Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday, November 20, 2025. he said.

He said the future ‘Global Adaptation Goal’, envisioned as a measurement system to define countries’ capability buffer against the damage currently caused by climate change, “should be set country-focused and national, and countries should be given the flexibility to define and measure progress using national systems, capacities and data facts.”

These statements come even as uncertainty remains over whether the COP Presidency, led by top Brazilian diplomat Andrei Lago, will be able to get countries to agree on a broad political statement (the so-called cover text) that will headline the main points of consensus they discuss in Belem.

Divisions remain over whether developing countries would accept a roadmap to end fossil fuel use or language supporting a roadmap. Developed countries, on the other hand, resist language that says it is imperative to provide low-cost financing to developing countries to help them achieve these goals.

“Many Parties (countries) have highlighted different starting points and diverse development needs. This reinforces the need for nationally determined, demand-driven transition pathways rather than any uniform or prescriptive approach… global equity must remain central. Developing countries need adequate policy space to close development gaps, address systemic vulnerabilities and ensure the well-being of their people according to their stage of development and national conditions,” he added.