India ratifies the Paris Climate Agreement on October 2
Biz@India
India holds a strong ambition for sustainable development and was among the top 10 countries investing in renewable energy in 2015
Though India was earlier reluctant to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement any time soon, the country ratified the accord on October 2, 2016.
On April 22, the first day of signing the Paris Climate Agreement, India signed it along with more than 170 nations. A lot of buzz was created about the country’s willingness to become a leader in climate change mitigation actions. But, the country was constantly changing its plans to address the problem of greenhouse gas emissions on its domestic front and at global level.
However, on October 2, 2016, India ratified the Paris climate deal on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Care & concern towards nature is integral to the Indian ethos. India is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change. https://t.co/cKLlIu2J7S
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2016
“The world is now talking about how to stop global warming to prevent the temperature of the earth to rise by another two degrees. We need to play a part. Mahatma Gandhi’s life perhaps left the least carbon footprint on earth. We follow his ideals,” said the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Paris Climate agreement signing ceremony in April 2016, witnessed the most number of countries signing an international pact on a single day to deal with greenhouse gases emissions, mitigation and adaptation within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
To take this agreement further, the Secretary-General of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, invited world leaders to a special ceremony at the UN in New York on September 21. At the ceremony, leaders were asked either to deposit their instruments of ratification or explain when they will do so, in order to speed up the process of Paris agreement turning into a law.
India moves towards sustainability
Approximately 61 nations who are responsible for around 53 pc of global emissions have ratified the agreement so far, including India, the US, China and many island states. The Paris agreement will become an international law 30 days after 55 countries responsible for at least 55 pc of emissions deposit their instruments of ratification with the Secretary General.
After India, which accounts for around 4.5 pc of global greenhouse gas emissions, has ratified the pact, the treaty is expected to come into operations next year.
India had confirmed that it will take major steps to contribute to the climate action which will include, reducing emission intensity by 35 pc, building 40 pc capacities for power generation from non fossil fuels, creating additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes, investing in reducing vulnerability and enhancing adaptation to climate change.
Along with this, the country will work to save 80 million tonnes of carbon equivalent per annum and to increase public transport in three years.
India holds a strong ambition for sustainable development and was among the top 10 countries investing in renewable energy in 2015, with an investment of USD 10.2 billion.
