India on Tuesday urged developed countries to fulfil their financial commitments under the Paris Agreement, stressing that public funding must remain central to climate action in developing nations. It also called for stronger adaptation finance to help vulnerable countries tackle the effects of climate change.

Delivering India's opening statement at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Narendra Bhooshan highlighted the importance of Article 9.1 of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The provision requires developed countries to provide financial resources to developing nations.

"UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and its Paris Agreement remain the most inclusive platforms where every country has a voice. India reaffirms its faith in this process, rooted in equity and the principle of CBDR-RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities)," he said.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and keep it well below 2 degrees Celsius. Achieving these targets requires major cuts in emissions from coal, oil and gas.

Bhooshan said the possibility of global warming crossing the 1.5°C threshold made equity more urgent. He stressed that no country should be left behind in global efforts to tackle climate change. India also reaffirmed its commitment to contributing its fair share to climate action while protecting its development priorities and the well-being of its people.

India has also called for greater technology transfer to developing countries. It wants barriers linked to costs, intellectual property rights and trade to be addressed so these nations can access clean technologies.

Earlier, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav outlined India's key negotiating priorities. He said India would seek predictable climate finance, primarily through public and concessional funding, without increasing the debt burden of developing countries. India is also pushing for a decision to launch the Climate Finance Work Programme at COP31.

The two-week conference began earlier this week in Antalya, a Mediterranean resort city. Governments are facing growing pressure to address the climate crisis following a year of heatwaves in Europe, deadly floods in Nepal and major wildfires in Indonesia.

Türkiye, the host of COP31, is promoting a voluntary initiative to speed up the electrification of transport, buildings and industries. The initiative aims to increase electricity's share of global energy consumption to 35 per cent by 2035.