India ratifies historic Paris climate change pact
New Delhi’s landmark move has been cheered at the United Nations, but its pledges are vague and it’s only committing to slowing down emissions rate
India, the world’s third biggest carbon emitter, has ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on the birthday of the country’s iconic independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.
India, with a population of 1.3 billion people, is the latest big polluter to formally sign the historic accord which now takes a major step towards becoming reality.
With India’s move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions have now ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet’s rising temperatures.
On Sunday, Indian officials, including UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, ceremoniously handed over signed documents at the United Nations in New York.
This was taken after a lot of deliberations and with a view to give the world a message ... India is fast becoming a super power
“This was taken after a lot of deliberations and with a view to give the world a message ... India is fast becoming a super power,” Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave told reporters in New Delhi ahead of the move.