COP31 kicks off: What's at stake for India and the world?

India heads to the climate summit seeking fair financing and support to protect farmers, coastal communities and vulnerable populations. Will it succeed?A close-up image of a ribbon bearing the signage of COP31. (Photo: UN)New Delhi,Nov 9, 2026 13:30 ISTThe climate crisis continues to knock on the door as world leaders, climate negotiators and scientists gather in Antalya, Turkiye, on Monday for the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).From record-breaking heat and erratic rainfall to devastating floods and growing pressure on food and water supplies, the consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.Running from November 9 to 20, the summit comes at a particularly critical moment. COP31 presidency discusses matters at a press conference in Antalya, Turkey. (Photo: UN) September 2026 was the world's second-hottest September on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.63°C above pre-industrial levels. August had also crossed the 1.5°C mark. While two unusually warm months do not mean the Paris Agreement's long-term temperature limit has been formally breached, they illustrate how close the world is moving towards dangerous levels of warming.Adding to that was the UNEP report that shared the grim finding of the world set to shoot past the 1.5°C threshold if the current efforts are not scaled up at a quick pace.A WARMING WORLD, A VULNERABLE INDIA For India, the climate warning is loud and clear. It's also visible in its weather patterns. A woman walks along a road amid dusty winds and scorching heat during a heatwave in Prayagraj, UP. (Photo: PTI) The country experienced extreme weather events on 331 out of 334 days between January and November 2025, according to data from the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth. Heatwaves, floods, thunderstorms and storms affected communities across the country.Instead of stopping, the warning signs continued well into 2026.India's southwest monsoon ended with a rainfall deficit of around 13%, while a strengthening El Nino in the Pacific is raising concerns about future rainfall, heat and agricultural stress. Pacific sea surface temperatures also touched 30°C in October, an unprecedented reading in the available records. People collect water from a tanker due to water shortage on a hot summer day in Solapur, Maharashtra. (Photo: PTI) WHAT INDIA WANTS AT COP31India is heading to Antalya with climate finance, technology transfer and adaptation among its key priorities.Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, has said the country will push for predictable, largely public and affordable climate finance from developed nations, alongside greater support for developing countries.India also wants climate commitments to respect national circumstances, rather than impose uniform targets on countries with vastly different resources and development needs. Bhupender Yadav during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary-General on the sidelines of Pre-COP, in Nadi, Fiji. (Photo: PTI) Protecting farmers, strengthening coastal resilience and ensuring affordable energy during the transition to cleaner sources will also feature in its approach.THE URGENT NEED FOR ACTIONCOP31 will build on the discussions at COP30 in Brazil, where countries agreed to increase adaptation finance but failed to secure a roadmap for moving away from fossil fuels. Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, is pictured. (Photo: UN) For India and other developing nations, the question remains about how quickly emissions can be reduced, but voices have also shifted to demand a fair climate finance framework. A question about who will finance that transition and protect communities already facing climate damage.As the summit begins, its biggest test will be whether countries can bridge that divide and turn years of climate commitments into action on the ground.- Ends