The Central government on Tuesday approved the proposal for ratification of the “historic” Paris climate deal which will be formalised on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, making India one of the key countries to bring the pact into force.
The nod by the Union Cabinet comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision which is expected to give momentum to the implementation of measures at international level to control global warming.
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Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, with this, India will be one of the key countries which will be instrumental in bringing the Paris Agreement into force.
“Today the Union Cabinet approved the ratification of Paris Agreement which is a historic decision. With the ratification, India will be one of the key countries instrumental in bringing the Paris Agreement into force,” Javadekar stated.
The decision will further underline India’s responsive leadership, which is committed to the global cause of environment protection and climate justice, he said.
Javadekar said the pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 % of global greenhouse gas emissions.
So far, 61 countries have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval accounting in total for 47.79 % of the total global greenhouse gas emissions.
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India’s decision to ratify the Agreement will take the number of cumulative level of emission of countries that have ratified the Agreement so far to 51.89% as its total emissions are 4.1% of the global emissions.
“Because of India’s push, now the world will ratify the deal soon. It will become an irreversible course of action for humankind. It is a common resolve to keep temperature rise below two degrees Celsius. Now that target is achievable,” Javadekar said.
The Minister had earlier said that the cumulative emissions of 61 countries put together were 51.89% and India’s ratification will help bridge the remaining 3% to fulfil the second condition.
Though the UN secretariat is closed on weekends, it will remain open specifically to allow India ratify the deal, Javadekar said.
Paris Agreement was adopted by 185 nations last year on December 12 and India signed it in New York on April 22 this year.
A total of 191 countries have signed the Paris Agreement so far.