Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav affirmed India’s strong commitment to urgent climate action, despite its historically minimal role in causing the climate crisis. Speaking at the inaugural 'Sagarmatha Sambaad'—a global dialogue on climate change and its impact on mountain regions—on May 16, 2025, he criticized developed nations for consuming a disproportionate share of the shrinking global carbon budget. This budget refers to the limit of carbon dioxide emissions that would keep global warming below 1.5°C since pre-industrial times.

Yadav emphasized that developed countries have failed to uphold their promises on climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building—responsibilities they bear to a greater extent. The dialogue, he said, must inspire collective global action. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is embedding sustainability into development through initiatives like Mission LiFE, which promotes mindful resource use.

Highlighting the Himalayas’ vulnerability, Yadav noted that India, with a large Himalayan region, witnesses climate impacts firsthand and shares the concerns of other mountain states. He stressed that future environmental outcomes rely on global collaboration guided by equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.

South Asia has contributed just 4% to cumulative global carbon emissions until 2020, despite housing nearly a quarter of the global population. Yadav called for stronger scientific cooperation, better climate resilience, and reliable climate finance. He also highlighted tree-planting efforts, including 72.1 million trees in the Indian Himalayas.