New Delhi, Oct. 8 -- India has called for greater flexibility, pragmatism and mutual respect among countries to bridge differences ahead of the United Nations (UN) climate summit, with environment minister Bhupender Yadav stressing that the focus must now shift from rhetoric to implementation.

Addressing the plenary session on political consensus and outcomes at the Pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji, Yadav said the areas of agreement among countries were significantly greater than their differences. He said the shared commitment to limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5degC remained an important foundation for negotiations.

Pre-COP is a preparatory meeting held a few weeks before the UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held in ...