NEW DELHI: Two days after the India's highest decision making body - Union Cabinet - gave its approval to the country's move to ratify the Paris Agreement, the ministers of 28 European countries too on Friday jointly approved the ratification of the global climate deal by the European Union (EU).The decision was reached at an extraordinary meeting of the Environment Council in Brussels.
The decision will now go to European Parliament for its approval next week. It is expected that the Parliament's approval may come before October 7. Once the European Parliament consents, the Council can formally adopt the decision. With India and EU now on board, the Agreement will enter into force in November — most probably when the next UN climate conference (COP22) begins in Marrakesh, Morocco on November 7.
"Once approved by the European Parliament next week, the EU will be able to deposit its ratification instrument before national ratification processes are completed in each Member State", said a statement of the European Commission.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "Today's decision shows that the European Union delivers on promises made. It demonstrates that the Member States can find common ground when it is clear that acting together, as part of the European Union, their impact is bigger than the mere sum of its parts. "I am happy to see that today the Member States decided to make history together and bring closer the entry into force of the first ever universally binding climate change agreement. We must and we can hand over to future generations a world that is more stable, a healthier planet, fairer societies and more prosperous economies. This is not a dream. This is a reality and it is within our reach. Today we are closer to it." So far, 61 countries, accounting for 47.79% of the total global emission, have submitted their instruments of ratification of the agreement which was adopted by 195 countries in Paris last December. The Agreement will enter into force 30 days after at least 55 countries, representing at least 55% of global emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession with the UN secretary general.
The EU (28 nations) accounts for 12.10% of the total global emission of greenhouse gases while India accounts for 4.1% of the total global emission. India has decided to submit its instrument of ratification on October 2 - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. India will, however, submit its ratification instrument with certain conditions, keeping its national interests in mind. The government had here on Wednesday said, "While agreeing to ratify the Paris Agreement, the Cabinet has also decided that India should declare that India 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".
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