Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stood on the stage at the Munich Security Dialogue and made India’s position on climate change crystal clear, asserting that countries that polluted the most in the past should step up and do more now. In her talk, “Degrees of Instability: Climate Security in a Warming World,” Nirmala Sitharaman advocates fair climate action in Munich, sticking to the simple idea that those who pollute should pay for the consequences. So does recognizing that not all countries are in the same boat when it comes to emissions, what she called “just climate governance.”

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Differentiated Responsibility and ‘Polluter Pays’

Ms. Sitharaman firmly stated that it’s not fair to treat developing countries the same as those that have emitted the most over the years. “It can’t be that countries which have contributed less are made to pay the same,” she insisted, backing up India’s push for different rules for different countries in climate deals.

She highlights the need for accountability, pressing wealthier nations to step up and contribute more to climate action. After all, these advanced economies got ahead by burning through resources and raising emissions. Now, she argued, they need to take the lead in helping out, offering both funding and technology, so developing countries can grow without repeating the same environmental mistakes.

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Balancing Mitigation with Adaptation

According to the Finance Minister, there is an equal need for long-term strategies for reducing emissions and for immediate adaptation and resilience measures. She expressed concern that placing too much emphasis on mitigation alone would put vulnerable communities, livestock, and livelihoods already experiencing the effects of climate change at risk.

The Finance Minister also stressed that environmental program allocations in the Union Budget have been based on a continually evolving process. For example, funding for the Green India Mission is set to more than double from ₹95.7 crore in 2025–26 to ₹212.5 crore in 2026–27. In comparison, pollution control funding is expected to decline from a revised figure of ₹1,300 crore to ₹1,091 crore and will have the potential, subject to available resources, of being supplemented throughout the year.

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Global Climate Politics in Transition

As the dialogue unfolded, the backdrop of global uncertainty was especially notable, particularly after President Donald Trump’s second term and the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which has disrupted international climate cooperation on commitments. On the panel, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse didn’t hold back, criticizing the U.S. administration’s climate talks, calling them downright troubling. He even apologized for some of the remarks made by American officials.

Wrapping up her speech, Nirmala Sitharaman advocates fair climate action in Munich and reaffirms her main point. She said fair responsibility, real financial support, and sharing new technology aren’t just nice to have; they’re essential if the world wants real, inclusive progress on climate change.

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