India ratifies Paris climate change agreement

On October 2nd, India, which accounts for about 4.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ratified the Paris climate change agreement, making it the 62nd country to do so.
October 05, 2016 | 12:11

(VNF) - On October 2nd, India, which accounts for about 4.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ratified the Paris climate change agreement, making it the 62nd country to do so.

India ratifies Paris climate change agreement

La Angostura Lake in Bolivia lost 50 per cent of water due to prolonged heat and drought. (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

India's ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, delivered the ratified agreement to the international body's office of legal affairs. The ceremony was held in front of a banner depicting Mahatma Gandhi and recognizing Oct. 2nd, the Indian peace leader's birthday, as an international day of nonviolence.

India’s Environment Minister, Anil Madhav Dave, said India’s ratification of the deal is a “great push” for global action to tackle climate change.

France, the host of the 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference, COP21, hailed India’s move. The French Environment Minister, Segolene Royal, said it would “allow the accord to come into effect in record time.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released a statement congratulating India and thanking the country for its "leadership" which he said "moves the world an important step closer" to making the international climate agreement binding.

The climate change plan was initially agreed upon by more than 180 countries at the Paris climate conference in 2015, but under its terms, it will not become binding until it is ratified by 55 countries that contribute a total of at least 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The 55-country requirement has already been fulfilled — India is No. 62 — but the emissions percentage still falls short. Even with major polluters like the U.S. and China signing on early, and including India's addition, the current signatories account for about 52 per cent of global greenhouse emissions, according to a statement released by the U.N. on October 2nd./.

( Compiled by VNF )

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