Past President, CII
Chairman, CII Climate Change Council
Chairman & Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd
The vision for COP29 is anchored in two essential pillars: enhancing ambition and enabling action, with climate finance as the unifying force to support both. These pillars are interwoven to create a cycle where progress in one amplifies outcomes in the other, a framework that speaks to the urgent need for cohesive, collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Through rigorous consultations, the COP29 Presidency has crafted a vision that is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement and the Global Stocktake, emphasizing the necessity for all nations to push for the highest feasible climate ambition. For developing countries, enhanced support is critical to meeting these ambitious goals, making substantial increases in climate finance paramount to empowering economies in the Global South to realize their climate potential.
Enhancing Ambition is about defining actionable, inclusive plans to keep the 1.5°C target alive. It calls for Parties to lead through ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), alongside an expansion in international cooperation. Enabling Action is the complementary pillar that emphasizes mobilizing via the CII Climate Action Charter, which offers a toolkit for measuring greenhouse gas emissions and assessing climate risks.
Furthermore, through CII Mission Net Zero, CII is focused on developing a strategy and action plan for an inclusive and expedited transition to net zero for Indian Industry. As the NCQG approaches finalization in 2025, Indian Industry is committed to contributing actively to a transparent, accountable finance structure aligned with India's sustainable development goals. By focusing on comprehensive monitoring and transparency, Industry Leaders aim to ensure that NCQG implementation reflects lessons learned and drives real progress.
Key considerations from the Indian Industry on climate finance include the need for a stable domestic policy environment, the implementation of carbon pricing and market mechanisms, increased and diversified climate finance commitments, and global cooperative funding frameworks.
essential support across finance, technology, and capacity building, creating enabling conditions at all levels.
A key priority at COP29 is setting an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, meeting the needs of developing countries through diversified and robust funding sources, operationalizing Article 6, and ensuring equitable resource distribution. Recognizing the pressing reality of climate impacts, COP29 also highlights the need to address loss and damage through initiatives like the Loss and Damage Fund.
In this context, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is actively advancing climate action within India's industrial sector. Through its Centres of Excellence (CoEs) on Green Business, Water, Food and Agriculture, Sustainable Development, and Competitiveness for SMES, CII has been instrumental in fostering business-led climate initiatives.
This includes pioneering the green buildings movement, resulting in over 14,000 projects covering nearly 12 billion square feet, and promoting climate action across Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In the context of India's rapid growth as a global manufacturing hub, aligning with ambitious climate targets requires an approach that balances energy security, economic development, and climate adaptation.
Indian Industry views COP29 as a strategic opportunity to advance global climate finance and foster technology-driven, resilient growth. With significant commitments to renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy practices, and natural climate solutions, India is poised to lead by example, driving innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. If realized, the COP29 outcomes-especially in climate finance and technology transfer-could empower India to not only meet its climate goals but also set a global benchmark for responsible and inclusive climate action. This report captures the Indian Industry's perspectives, readiness, and recommendations, looking toward COP29 as a vital step forward in the global pursuit of a sustainable future.
"With significant commitments to renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy practices, and natural climate solutions, India is poised to lead by example, driving innovation, cooperation, and sustainability. If realized, the COP29 outcomes-especially in climate finance and technology transfer-could empower India to not only meet its climate goals but also set a global benchmark for responsible and inclusive climate action."