New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG), on the sidelines of the COP 28 Summit in Dubai. Prime Minister thanked UNSG for his support during India’s G20 Presidency. He highlighted India’s initiatives and progress in achieving climate goals.

Both leaders exchanged views on priorities and concerns of the Global South related to Climate Action, climate finance, technology and reforms of the multilateral governance and financial institutions, including the UN, according to a government release.


UN Secretary-General appreciated India's efforts in the areas of sustainable development, climate action, MDB reforms, and Disaster management under G20 Presidency. He welcomed PM’s Green Credit Initiative. He affirmed to work with India to build on the achievements of India’s Presidency and take them forward at the UN Summit of the Future 2024.

On the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai, PM launched LeadIT 2.0, with a focus on inclusive and just industry transition. Modi said that LeadIT 2.0 focuses on co-development and transfer of low-carbon technology and financial assistance to emerging economies. Earlier, Modi had urged developed countries to reduce carbon footprint intensity by 2050 in his address at a session on Transforming Climate Finance. At the the opening session of the summit, Modi said India proposes to to host COP33 in 2028.

UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.  The Summit is an important moment for Heads of State and Government to signal their commitment to transform key climate related decisions into concrete actions and credible plans, and continue raising ambition to tackle climate change.

The 28th edition of the climate change conference which began Thursday will run till December 12. Modi will have seven bilateral meetings, deliver four speeches and be part of two special initiatives on climate events during his stay in Dubai for around 21 hours, officials said today. Modi, who will make an appearance at the World Climate Action Summit for the third time, after his visits to Paris in 2015 and Glasgow in 2021, was welcomed by the Indian community in Dubai. /BI/