New Delhi, December 2 — Reflecting on COP30 in Belém, Brazil (November 10–21, 2025), German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann stressed that the climate crisis requires multilateral, country-sensitive responses. Speaking at the German Embassy’s high-level “Climate Talks” in New Delhi, he said the conference’s emphasis on a “Global Mutirão” — a collective effort — underlined that no country can solve climate change alone and that credible climate action cannot be one-size-fits-all.
The session brought together Ambassador Ackermann and Arunabha Ghosh, Founder‑CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and South Asia Envoy to COP30. Ghosh said COP30 marked a shift from abstract debate to concrete implementation. He argued that adaptation and resilience are urgent, regionally specific priorities across South Asia — from Nepal and Sri Lanka to the Maldives and Bangladesh — and that reporting and policy must reflect those differing realities.
Both speakers reaffirmed the continued importance of multilateralism despite its imperfections. They urged that deals, even if imperfect, are necessary to demonstrate that collective action remains possible. Ghosh also stressed that just transition policies must put people first: physical and financial assets can be repurposed, but workers dependent on coal must be supported through reskilling and livelihoods protection. He highlighted trade and co‑development of technology as potential drivers of stronger climate ambition, and reminded listeners that the real test of COP decisions is what countries build together in the 50 weeks between conferences.
Ambassador Ackermann highlighted COP30 progress on adaptation and just transition while noting remaining gaps on mitigation. He pointed to new initiatives and finance mechanisms launched to move from negotiation to delivery, including a new fund to protect tropical forests to which Germany has pledged EUR 1 billion. He described the conference as producing important recognition that climate action must also be socially fair.
On finance, Ackermann underscored Germany’s commitment and recent record: in 2024 Germany contributed EUR 11.8 billion to international climate finance, including EUR 6.1 billion in budgetary resources, meeting its pledge of at least EUR 6 billion annually. Germany also mobilised more than EUR 1 billion in private capital for climate projects, a milestone confirmed by recent federal reporting to the EU. He framed sustained finance as essential for trust and successful global negotiations, and reiterated Germany’s reliability as a partner for the Global South.
Looking to bilateral cooperation, Ackermann said Indo‑German collaboration will be crucial to implement COP30 outcomes. He recalled meetings between India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider in Belém and outlined avenues for deeper engagement under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP). Germany has launched a new IKI Large Grant call focused on India to support the country’s National Adaptation Plan and strengthen resilience of forests, ecosystems and biodiversity. He also pointed to practical cooperation between the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and CEEW showcased at COP30, highlighting evidence‑based tools that help integrate climate considerations into development policy.
Ghosh added that South Asia will need focused attention on adaptation, operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, and opportunities for collaboration on just transition, skills for a green economy, and energy systems.
COP30 coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and accelerated calls to close the emissions gap toward the 1.5°C goal. The conference delivered significant advances on adaptation — including a decision to triple adaptation finance by 2035 — and operationalised the Loss and Damage Fund, even as deep divides remained on fossil fuel phase‑out and climate finance burdens.
Both Germany and India emerged from Belém as influential partners: Germany through steady climate finance and leadership on forests, energy systems and just transition; India through scale, ambition and a focus on equitable solutions. The Climate Talks in New Delhi used the COP30 reflections to underline a shared message: implementation, innovation and collaboration will determine progress in the coming years.
