Cabinet approves India's move to ratify Paris Agreement on climate change

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the country's move to formally join the Paris Agreement on climate change by giving its green signal for its ratification. As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Sunday, the country will submit its instrument of ratification to the United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on October 2 -- the birth anniversary of Mahatma

Gandhi. The Cabinet approved the India's ratification to the Paris Agreement in its meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Modi. Since the European Union (28 nations), which accounts for over 10 per cent of the total global emission of greenhouse gases, has decided to submit its instrument of ratification before October 7, it is now certain that the Paris Agreement will come into force with India on board at the time of the next UN climate conference (Conference of Parties - COP22), scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco from Novemver 7 to 18.

As per the Paris Agreement clause, the agreement will come into force 30 days after 55 countries, representing 55 per cent of global emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession with the UN secretary general.

So far, 61 countries, accounting for 47.79 per cent of the total global emission, have submitted their instruments of ratification of the agreement, which was adopted by 195 countries in Paris last December.

It is expected that the individual EU nations will also submit their respective instruments of ratification or acceptance to the UN in coming days.

France had ratified Paris Agreement on June 15 and was the first G20 countries to do so.

German Parliament had last week approved the country's ratification to the Paris Agreement. Both France and Germany are also expected to submit their respective instruments of ratification individually before October 7.

Though national ratification has already crossed the threshold of 55 countries, it so far only accounts for 47.79 per cent of global emissions. India, which accounts for 4.1 per cent of global emissions, will bring it closer to the emission threshold of 55%.

The Paris Agreement calls on countries to take actions post-2020 to combat climate change and intensify their efforts needed for a sustainable low carbon future. It is meant to limit global warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius and as close to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible to increase economic ability to adapt to extreme climate.

Cabinet approves India's move to ratify Paris Agreement on climate change