India faces a moral dilemma on climate change. We have contributed least to the problem yet bear disproportionate impacts. Floods, droughts, heatwaves are devastating our farmers and coastal communities.
At the same time, we cannot demand fossil fuel access from developed countries while transitioning our own economy. Our climate leadership must come from action, not just advocacy.
The Mission LiFE initiative — promoting sustainable lifestyles — is a powerful idea. Combined with our renewable energy push, energy efficiency programs, and afforestation drives, India can show that development and sustainability go together.
But we need international cooperation. The promised $100 billion climate finance for developing countries remains unfulfilled. Technology transfer is slow. Loss and damage funding is inadequate.