COP30 at Belém: A Breakthrough Moment for Durable Carbon Removal
COP30 marked a historic shift for carbon dioxide removal. For the first time, CDR received a dedicated CDR30 Pavilion, formal recognition under the COP Action Agenda, and a clear position within global climate cooperation and finance.
Representing India and the wider Global South, Asitava Sen, CEO of the Carbon Removal India Alliance, spoke across five major platforms, underscoring a central message: the future of CDR must be co-designed with the Global South, not retrofitted for it. His interventions highlighted India’s agricultural strengths, coastal opportunity, and the broader South’s cost and climate advantages for large-scale deployment.
One of the most significant outcomes of COP30 was the launch of the Global Carbon Harvest Coalition, uniting Brazil, India, and Kenya to accelerate soil-based and biomass-based removals. CRIA was instrumental in bringing the Indian Council of Agricultural Research on board as the Government of India’s representative institution. Formal political clearance and agreement signing will follow.
This briefing provides a first-hand account of CRIA’s engagements, insights, and the emerging pathways that position India as a leading voice in global durable carbon removal.