India to Miss February Deadline for Updated Climate Action Plan

New Delhi, February 2025 — India is likely to miss the February 10 deadline to update its climate action plan, also termed Nationally Determined Contributions, pursuant to the Paris Agreement. Delays for multiple reasons could possibly affect India's climate policy position ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil later this year.

Missed Deadline and Current Status
India has yet to unveil its 2035 NDCs, which are supposed to present the country's commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing reliance on renewable energy. The Paris Agreement makes all signatories update their NDCs every five years. India made its last submission in 2020, and although it was after the deadline, India is under no obligation to submit on time because there are no penalties for delayed submission.

Secondly, India has not yet submitted its first BTR, which was expected on December 31, 2024. This report is expected to give information on emissions, how this might be mitigated, and the extent to which India achieves targets regarding climate.
The other major economies, such as several developed nations, have also failed to submit their updated NDCs within schedule.

Paris Agreement Commitments and India's Targets
Under the Paris Agreement, India will:

Reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030.
Create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent through afforestation.
Ensure 50% of total installed electric power capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
India is largely on track to meet these targets ahead of schedule. However, the absence of a 2035 roadmap raises questions about its long-term climate strategy.

Main Causes of the Delay

1. Climate Finance Shortfalls
One of the major reasons for the delay is India’s dissatisfaction with the financial commitments made by developed countries. At COP29 in Baku (2024), India and other developing nations were expecting at least $1 trillion annually in climate finance. However, the final agreement only allocated $300 billion per year from 2035. India has criticized this funding gap, arguing that it falls far short of what is needed to support ambitious climate action in emerging economies.

2. India's Strategic Climate Diplomacy
India is scheduled to host COP33 in 2028, the most important climate convention where key policy commitments by the host nation are usually unveiled. Climate experts believe that India may keep some climate commitments for that event and will not make commitments towards a long-term 'amrit' or 'divine nectar'. Such a strategy keeps the policies of the country in a fluid state while negotiating better financial and technological favors from the western world.

Implications of the Delay
This missed deadline does not incur short-term penalties but could potentially have diplomatic and policy implications.

Global Reputation: India is a major economy and the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases; hence, this country plays a significant role in global climate negotiations. A delay in submittable NDCs may raise questions about its commitment to the international agreements.
COP30 Preparations: Without a clear 2035 roadmap, India may not have much bargaining power at COP30 in Brazil later this year.
Renewable Energy Investment: Every investor in the renewable energy sector in India needs policy certainty. Any delay in climate commitments will bring uncertainty to future projects.

Look Ahead
India’s long-term climate strategy remains a work in progress. While it is on track to meet its 2030 commitments, the delay in updating the 2035 NDCs reflects broader concerns about financial support, technological collaboration, and policy flexibility.

India is expected to present its up-dated plan by the end of 2025, possibly after further agreement on climate finance at COP30. The approach of the government in the next couple of months will determine how India will position itself in global climate talks and whether it can use its influence to gain better financial and technological support for its energy transition.

Source: StudyIQ