 in Geneva, Union Minister for Environment){kind=link}
MAY 02: At the 2025 High-Level Segment of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs) in Geneva, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav took part in a Ministerial Roundtable on the theme “Means of Implementation.” His participation underscored India’s commitment to sustainable environmental practices and international cooperation.
During the interactive panel, Shri Yadav presented a summary of key outcomes from ministerial discussions held on April 30, focusing on the need for predictable and accessible international financing. Emphasis was placed on mobilizing domestic resources through progressive tools such as carbon taxes, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and green fiscal reforms. Innovative financing mechanisms like green bonds, chemical certificates, debt-for-nature swaps, and green loans were also highlighted as pivotal for driving investment, especially in fiscally constrained or post-crisis nations.
Ministers agreed on the necessity of coherent policy frameworks that attract private sector participation. Recommendations included enforcing bans on single-use plastics and offering incentives for green technologies. The discussions further highlighted the importance of institutional coordination, data transparency, and cross-sectoral alignment to effectively implement Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
The session stressed the value of regional cooperation by strengthening regional centers to facilitate technical exchange, shared infrastructure, and capacity development. Special considerations were given to conflict-affected nations with suggestions for direct international funding access and conflict-sensitive strategies.
On the sidelines of the event, Shri Yadav held strategic meetings with global environmental leaders. Discussions with UNEP Executive Director Ms. Inger Andersen focused on progressing the upcoming INC-5.2 on plastic pollution. In a bilateral exchange with Qatar’s Minister of Environment, Shri Yadav invited Qatar to join the International Solar Alliance.
Further engagements included discussions with heads of major environmental conventions such as Ramsar, Minamata, and CITES. These leaders acknowledged India’s leadership in environmental action and expressed a desire to deepen collaboration.
India’s presence at BRS COP 2025 reaffirms its drive towards a sustainable and developed “Viksit Bharat by 2047,” positioning environmental responsibility as central to its national growth strategy.