By Tapan Bharadwaj
At COP30 in Brazil, the failure to set clear climate action plans once again raised questions about the annual climate meetings’ effectiveness. Weak leadership and poor follow-through have become common themes, opening doors for countries in the Global South to take charge through focused collaboration. This raises an intriguing question: can regional groups, like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), step up to represent their needs on larger platforms? Could this shift energize climate efforts?
One major issue is the lack of leadership. The US withdrew from the Paris Agreement again in 2025, and its absence at COP30 marked a worrying trend in climate commitment. European nations, while still voicing support for climate goals, are also facing internal challenges, such as the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war and the rise of political groups less committed to climate action. Meanwhile, countries like India and China are also struggling. India, despite ramping up climate finance, faces high domestic demands, while China focuses more on its energy and economic interests than global climate leadership.
Implementation of climate agreements is another hurdle. While reporting on climate efforts has improved, the actual delivery on promises often falls short. For instance, outcomes from COP27 and COP29, like the Loss and Damage Fund and the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, still lack clear operational frameworks. Initiatives introduced at COP30 also seem vague on how to follow through.
In this environment, “minilaterals”—small groups focused on specific issues—are becoming essential to climate negotiations. Examples include the BASIC countries and small island states like AOSIS and the Climate Vulnerable Forum. These groups can mobilize resources and better represent the interests of smaller nations. They offer a bottom-up approach, pushing for more effective climate agreements in an era of weak leadership.
Looking at regional influence, the Bay of Bengal region, home to about 1.7 billion people, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change. Countries like Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka face severe weather challenges, including floods and cyclones. The Bay of Bengal is crucial not just for the countries bordering it but for global trade. Given this context, BIMSTEC has the opportunity to elevate regional climate issues onto global platforms, with climate change and disaster management already marked as key focus areas.
Yet, BIMSTEC faces challenges like limited funding and support. For the nations involved, pushing for a unified BIMSTEC bloc at COP meetings could ensure that their unique challenges—such as disaster risk reduction and energy security—are addressed effectively. Each BIMSTEC member is also part of larger party groups at COP, allowing for a coordinated effort that could elevate their collective voice.
The value in these regional collaborations is clear. Organizations like BIMSTEC already have the infrastructure in place to form a functioning climate negotiating bloc. Establishing a working group could transform BIMSTEC into a powerful advocate for climate action, pushing more localized solutions that reflect the region’s specific needs. This would not only strengthen negotiations but could lead to more effective implementation of climate strategies.
As we look to the future, leveraging sub-regional organizations for climate leadership might shift our approach from just talks to real action on the ground. The time for focused, collaborative initiatives has arrived.
- About the author: Tapan Bharadwaj is Senior Researcher with IPCS’ China Research Programme.
- Source: This article was published by IPCS.
