New Delhi, October 2, 2016: India has deposited its instrument of ratification with the UN Depositary to join the Paris Agreement. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) welcomes India’s decision to ratify the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 12, 2015, in Paris. It seeks to keep global average temperatures from rising above 1.5°C as compared to the pre-industrial years.
The Paris Agreement shall enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions ratify the Paris Agreement. Till now 61 Parties have ratified responsible for 48 percent of the global emissions. With India’s ratification, the Paris Agreement inches closer for entry into force.
“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 pay an important role in making Paris Agreement effective and equitable”, says Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, CSE.
Paris Agreement inadequate
Paris Agreement is weak and not enough to keep the global average temperatures rise below 2.0°C as compared to the pre-industrial era. Developed countries have pledged very low emissions cut targets and consequently developing countries have also not been very ambitious. Currently US intends to cut its emissions by 26-28 percent by 2025 against 2005 levels and EU has pledged to cut its emission by 40 percent by 2030 against 1990 levels. These targets are clearly insufficient to meet 2.0°C targets.
“The Paris deal is weak and erases historical responsibility of the developed countries in adressing 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”, adds Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE
India is already experiencing the impacts of climate change like extreme weather events, frequent draughts and floods etc., when the temperature rise is about 1.1°C. A 2.0°C warmer world would be devastation for the water and agriculture sector and would keep millions of people in the poverty trap, says CSE researchers.
“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, Morocco as these issues are important for the poor and vulnerable population of the country” adds Chandra Bhushan.
For more on this, please contact Hemanth Subramanian, 98367 48585, hemanth@cseindia.org
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