India ratifies historic Paris climate deal at UN; Caring for nature part of Indian ethos, says Modi

United Nations: India, the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, today ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a major boost to the deal which appeared tantalisingly close to enter into force by the end of this year.

Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee, to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony here attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 147th birth anniversary.

“Bringing the Paris Agreement on climate change ever closer to its entry into force, India today joined the new global accord at the United Nations Headquarters and became the 62nd country to deposit its legal instrument of ratification,” the world body said in a statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded India’s “climate leadership”, saying India’s ratification of the Paris Climate Change agreement moves the world an “important step closer” toward achieving the goal of entering the landmark deal into force this year.

In his message for the International Day of Non-violence, marked every year on Gandhi’s birth anniversary, Ban said there is no better way to commemorate Gandhi and his legacy for people and the planet than with India submitting its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

He called on all countries to complete their domestic processes for ratification and also strive in all activities to achieve progress through non-violence.

The UN chief said the commitment to sustainable living that Gandhi emphasised on is reflected in a “momentous way” as India is depositing its instrument of ratification to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

“India keeps its promise. On Gandhiji’s birth anniversary, we deposit the instrument of ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

With India stressing on the importance of climate justice, its goal will be that “climate justice ends are also served” once the treaty comes into force, Akbaruddin said.

The ratification by India, which has a population of over 1.2 billion, is expected to give momentum to the implementation of measures at the international level to control global warming by limiting greenhouse gases.

The ratification formalises pledges made by each country, including India, to take actions to curb or lower greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 onwards and try to keep the rise in average global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

India, the world’s third biggest carbon emitter after China and the US which are responsible for around 40 per cent of the global carbon emissions, accounts for 4.1 per cent of global emissions.

Last month, the US and China had formally joined the Paris agreement, which was adopted by 195 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change last December in Paris.

The pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With India’s move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions have now ratified the accord.

India in its declaration put up on the UNFCCC website said: “Government of India declares its understanding that, as per its national laws, keeping in view its development agenda, particularly the eradication of poverty and provision of basic needs for all its citizens, coupled with its commitment to following the low carbon path to progress and on the assumption of unencumbered availability of cleaner sources of energy and technologies and financial resources from around the world and based on a fair and ambitious assessment of global commitment to combating climatechange, it is ratifying the Paris Agreement”.

Adopted in Paris by the 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at a conference known as COP21 last December, the Agreement was signed in New York on 22 April this year by 175 countries. A total of 191 countries have signed the Paris Agreement so far.

However, India has decided to ratify the agreement “in the context” of its national laws, availability of means of implementation and “its own assessment” of global commitment to combating climate change.

“While agreeing to ratify the Paris agreement, the Cabinet has also decided that India should declare that it will treat its national laws, its development agenda, availability of means of implementation, its assessment of global commitment to combating climate change, and predictable and affordable access to cleaner source of energy as the context in which the agreement is being ratified,” an official statement had earlier said.

The Union Cabinet had given its nod to ratifying the Paris climate deal on September 28, days after Modi announced this at BJP’s National Council meet in Kozhikode. The move is expected to give momentum to the implementation of measures at the international level to control global warming.

China and the US jointly ratifying the Paris climate change deal has given hope that the landmark accord may come into effect by the end of this year.

Akbaruddin had on Friday said that India had played a “key role” in the negotiations and finalisation of the Paris agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a “personal commitment” to the climate deal.

Ban in his message said: “I warmly congratulate India for its climate leadership, and for building on the strong momentum we see from all corners of the globe for the agreement to enter into force as quickly as possible this year. India’s ratification of the agreement moves the world an important step closer toward achieving that goal.”

Yesterday, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave told reporters in New Delhi that “this (decision) was taken after a lot of deliberations and with a view to give the world a messege… India is fast becoming a super power”.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development David Nabarro had last week said the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change is closer to entering into force, after India submits its ratification.

“We are tantalisingly close to the Paris Agreement entering into force,” he added.

Caring for nature part of Indian ethos, says Modi as India ratifies Paris pact

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said care and concern towards nature is integral to Indian ethos and the country is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change, as India ratified the Paris climate deal.

“Care & concern towards nature is integral to the Indian ethos. India is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change,” Modi tweeted.

India, the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, today ratified the landmark Paris climate pact, giving a major boost to the deal which appeared tantalisingly close to coming into force by the end of this year.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 147th birth anniversary.

During the BJP’s National Council meet in Kozhikode recently, the Prime Minister had said,” There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties).

“Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today, on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.”

The US today welcomed India’s ratification of the Paris climate agreement with President Barack Obama saying that by joining the pact Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people have carried on Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.

France also lauded India’s move saying the decision “brings us closer” to the coming into force of the pact before the end of the year.

Indians have carried on Gandhi’s legacy: Obama on Paris pact

Washington/New Delhi:The US today welcomed India’s ratification of the Paris climate agreement with President Barack Obama saying that by joining the pact Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people have carried on Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.

“Gandhiji believed in a world worthy of our children. In joining the Paris Agreement, @narendramodi & the Indian people carry on that legacy,” Obama tweeted.

Obama, whose presidential term comes to an end in January next year, wants to be remembered as the president who saved the world from climate change and he played a significant role in concluding the Paris climate deal last year.

Obama and Modi, on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos last month, had discussed climate change issues as an immediate priority of Indo-US ties.

Terming it as a “bold and decisive” step, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma in New Delhi also lauded India’s ratification of the Paris climate agreement.

“In joining the Paris climate agreement today, India has taken a bold and decisive step in combating climate change,” Verma said.

He also commended Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and thanked all those who have worked on the agreement over many years.

“India’s ratification provides indispensable political momentum to securing entry into force of the Paris Agreement this year, sending an enduring and irreversible market signal that low-carbon development is 21st century development,” Verma said.

“… (It) will yield tremendous benefits not only for producers and consumers in India, but for those around the world,” he said.

India, the world’s third largest carbon emitter, today ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a major boost to the deal which appeared tantalisingly close to enter into force by the end of this year.

Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee, to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony here attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 147th birth anniversary.

“We look forward to continuing our close friendship with India and furthering our work together on climate change and clean energy, so that we may provide future generations a world to be proud of and treasure,” Verma said.

The ratification formalises pledges made by each country, including India, to take actions to curb or lower greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 onwards and try to keep the rise in average global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

India, the world’s third biggest carbon emitter after China and the US which are responsible for around 40 per cent of the global carbon emissions, accounts for 4.1 per cent of global emissions.

India’s ratification of Paris climate deal celebrated at UNHQ

United Nations:India’s ratification of the historic Paris climate deal was today marked by a special ceremony at the UN headquarters attended by several dignitaries who hailed the country’s move to combat global warming.

The event, which began with a special recital by India’s leading carnatic music singer Sudha Ragunathan, was attended by President of General Assembly Peter Thomson, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Finance Minister of Bangladesh Abul Maal Muhith and India’s former envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri among others.

Thomson recalled his visit about a month ago to the Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi, the “sacred compound” of ‘Rajghat’, where he stood by the “eternal flame” contemplating Gandhi’s central message of non-violence.

“We live in a world in desperate need of Mahatma’s message of love and kindness, compassion and understanding.

Everyday, we are confronted with news of conflicts and humanitarian disasters. The scale of these challenges is daunting,” he said.

The world is confronted with the unprecedented refugee crisis, extreme poverty, inequality, human rights violations and rise of xenophobic rhetoric.

“I believe Gandhiji would have applauded our efforts in putting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals together,” he said about the SDGs which aim to fight these challenges.

“I also agree he would be delighted today on India’s ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement thus making its entry into force tantalisingly close,” Thomson added.

He also invoked Gandhi for his “strong message” that there is enough in the world for everyone’s need but not for every man’s greed.

Underlining that Gandhi took objection to violence, Thomson underlined that while violence appears to do good, that good is only temporary but the evil it does is permanent.

He underscored the need for the international community to rededicate for “securing a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding in the world”, and stressed on the need for implementing the Gandhian principles of “respecting our differences, responding with compassion, loving our environment and always choosing peace over conflict”.

Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said unlike today’s times, in Gandhi’s lifetime environmental concerns, climate change, sustainable development were not issues at the forefront of global conversations.

“The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the International Day of Non-Violence was particularly chosen for the deposition by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasise on Gandhi’s lesser known legacy of environmentalism as well the ethos of sustainability that is an intrinsic part of Gandhi s philosophy and India’s deeply held traditions,” he said in his address.

“Yet, his emphasis on a simple life style, love for nature and appreciation for natural resources epitomised a low carbon footprint even though the concept itself was not formulated then,” he said.

Muhith recalled his memories of the day Gandhi was assassinated and the profound impact his life has had on generations around the world.

Akbaruddin said Gandhi had encapsulated the whole idea of sustainable development more than seven decades ago when he had said that the “earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children”.

“So we have to handover to them at least as it was handed over to us,” he added.

The Indian envoy said the President of the General Assembly had echoed a similar refrain when he had brought along his grand-daughters to his swearing-in on September 13 to emphasise that “we need to bequeath to our children and grandchildren a world that we envisage in the 2030 Agenda”.

On the occasion, the UN Postal Administration also released a postage stamp to honour India’s most celebrated carnatic music artist M S Subbulakshmi, who had performed at the world body 50 years ago in October 1966.

The year 2016 also marks her birth centenary.

The commemorative stamp issued is valued at USD 1.20 and has the iconic blue emblem of the UN along side a picture of Subbulakshmi.

The ceremony concluded with a soulful rendition by Ragunathan of Subbulakshmi’s music as well as of Gandhi’s beloved ‘Ram Dhun’.

Green bodies laud India’s ratification of Paris climate deal

New Delhi: Lauding India’s ratification of the Paris climate deal, green bodies today said it increases the pressure on rich nations, which have contributed the most to this problem, to reduce emissions and also shows that the country’s leaders are standing with the global community in its efforts to tackle climate change.

Noting that the step gives out a clear indication that India both needs urgent action at home and globally, the bodies said that India must make sure that the next steps that will be negotiated really do reflect “fairness and equitable action” for all.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that by ratification India has shown itself as a serious global player in the climate negotiations.

“By being in the club of early ratifiers, India has shown itself as a responsible and serious global player in the climate negotiations.

“But ratification is just the beginning of tough and difficult negotiations ahead. India will have to play an important role in making Paris Agreement effective and equitable,” said Chandra Bhushan, CSE Deputy Director General.

CSE also noted the Paris Agreement is “weak and not enough” to keep the global average temperatures rise below 2.0 degrees Celsius as compared to the pre-industrial era and developed countries have pledged very low emissions cut targets.

“The Paris deal is weak and erases historical responsibility of the developed countries in addressing climate change. However, there is still enough scope for equity and ambition in the current framework of Paris Agreement. India should strive to bring Equity back into the climate agenda,” said Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE.

India today ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a significant push for the deal to enter into force by the end of this year.

The pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With India’s move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions have now ratified the accord.

Global research body, World Resources Institute (WRI) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made clear that his actions are driven by the necessity of blunting climate impacts today and for future generations but also the significant economic opportunities for a clean energy future.

“India’s leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder with the global community on climate change, a common challenge that unites us all,” Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, WRI told PTI. .

WRI Executive Vice President said the country has one of the boldest renewable energy targets in the world, making it destined to be a major player in solar and wind markets.

He said India’s ratification comes swiftly after the European Council’s vote to have the EU join the Agreement.

“We are now on the verge of entry into force for the Paris Agreement at a pace that is one of the most rapid ever and faster than almost anyone imagined. This is an exciting moment in history as countries ramp up action and work collectively to address this global challenge,” Bapna said.

CSE said the rule book for implementation of Paris Agreement is yet to negotiated.

“India should play an important role in issues of adaptation, finance and loss and damage in the upcoming climate talks in Marrakech in Morocco as these issues are important for the poor and vulnerable population of the country,” Bhushan said.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace India said it is now essential that India rationalises its energy policy and with India’s ratification, the Paris Agreement has edged even closer to the moment where it enters into force.

“I am glad that the Indian government has acted decisively and ratified the Paris agreement, thereby strongly communicating its intention to move quickly to achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals. It is now essential that India rationalises its energy policy,” said Greenpeace India Executive Director Ravi Chellam.

He said an analysis done by the body earlier shows that nearly USD 50 billion in scarce resources is currently being sunk to build over 60 GW of idle coal plants that India does not need and can ill-afford.

“This is a colossal waste of scarce resources that would be better used to achieve India’s goal of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022,” he said.

He said that the momentum behind this Agreement is a recognition of the danger of climate chaos, to which India is particularly vulnerable and the major emitters which haven’t yet ratified must do so promptly.

“All countries must take action now, to meet and go beyond the commitments they have already made, so that the Paris Agreement goes down in history as the moment mankind stared climate catastrophe in the face, and did something significant about it.

“India’s ratification increases the pressure on the rich, industrialised countries which have contributed the most to this problem, to raise their level of ambition on both, reduction of emissions and providing finance and technological assistance to developing countries,” he said.

Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director of ActionAid India said that this year India and its citizens have been on the front line of climate change and today’s ratification move is a clear indication that India both wants and needs urgent action at home and internationally.

“India now has a vital role to play in ensuring that its hard-won inclusion of climate justice in the Agreement becomes a key outcome and not just an empty phrase.

“In the next round of UN talks in Morocco this November, it must make sure the next steps that will be negotiated do reflect fairness and equitable action for all,” he said.

France welcomes India’s ratification of Paris agreement

Paris:France today welcomed India’s ratification of the Paris climate change agreement on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, saying the decision “brings us closer” to the coming into force of the pact before the end of the year.

India, the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a significant push for the deal to enter into force by the end of this year.

“The President of the Republic (Francois Hollande) welcomes the ratification of the Paris Agreement by India, on this symbolic day commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday,” a Communique issued by the French Presidency said.

“This decision, coming after the decision of the Environment Ministers of the European Union, brings us closer to the entry into force of the Paris agreement before the end of the year,” it said.

French President Hollande recalled that India played a key role in the adoption of this agreement in December 2015.

India also launched, with France, the International Solar Alliance, which will contribute to the realisation of the objectives of the Paris agreement by facilitating access to solar energy.

Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee, to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony here attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

The pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With India’s move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions have now ratified the accord.