India presented its stance before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), emphasizing that developed nations bear the primary responsibility for the global climate crisis due to their historical emissions. India reaffirmed the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), highlighting that the global climate burden must reflect both capacity and historical contribution. The country made it clear that responsibility cannot be uniform—developing nations should not be held to the same standards as industrialized economies.
India cautioned the ICJ against formulating new legal obligations that go beyond the current international climate framework. It argued that existing treaties, such as the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), already provide a comprehensive structure addressing issues of finance, technology transfer, and historical accountability. India maintained that the court should respect the delicate balance achieved under these agreements.
India strongly criticized the lack of tangible progress from developed countries on their climate commitments, particularly:
India’s argument underscored that while many developing nations are taking ambitious steps to address climate change, developed countries continue to fall short on their obligations.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summed up India’s stance with a powerful statement:
“If loss and degradation is unequal, responsibility too must be unequal.”
This remark encapsulates India’s call for fairness, equity, and historical accountability in global climate governance.
“Justice in environmental matters must match responsibility with capability, and history with honesty.”
This quote serves as a reminder to future policymakers and administrators that environmental justice must be guided by principles of equity, historical accountability, and shared but differentiated responsibility.
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