Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that India will publish its revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the 2035 period by December. Speaking at the high-level segment of the UN COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, Yadav said climate change is “real and imminent” because of unsustainable models of growth and development. He urged developed countries to achieve their net-zero targets earlier than currently planned.

The environment minister said that implementation of climate goals must be adequate, accessible and affordable, and free from restrictive intellectual property barriers. He said India’s newly launched Nuclear Mission and Green Hydrogen Mission will further accelerate its progress towards achieving net zero by 2070. The country will also release its first Biennial Transparency Report soon, he said.

Under the Paris Agreement, NDCs are national climate plans that outline goals to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts, forming the backbone of global efforts to keep warming within 1.5°C. Countries are required to submit their third round of NDCs referred to as “NDCs 3.0” for the 2031–2035 period this year. Yadav noted that COP30 marks ten years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, describing it as a moment to assess global commitment.

Minister called for COP30 to be recognised as a COP of implementation and a COP of delivery, urging developed countries to show greater climate ambition and honour their commitments. He highlighted that India’s emission intensity has dropped by more than 36% since 2005, and that non-fossil energy sources now make up over half of the country’s installed electricity capacity—an NDC target achieved five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.

He also pointed out that, in line with Paris Agreement goals, over 2 billion plants were planted through a community-led initiative within sixteen months. On the sidelines of the summit, Yadav addressed the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (Lead IT) Industry Leaders’ Roundtable, calling for stronger global collaboration to speed up industrial transition. He said collective action would support the goals of the Paris Agreement and help create a sustainable future for upcoming generations.