New Delhi: Lauding India's ratification of the Paris climate deal, green bodies on Sunday said it increases the pressure on rich nations, which have contributed the most to this problem, to reduce emissions and also shows that the country's leaders are standing with the global community in its efforts to tackle climate change.
Noting that the step gives out a clear indication that India both needs urgent action at home and globally, the bodies said that India must make sure that the next steps that will be negotiated really do reflect "fairness and equitable action" for all.
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that by ratification India has shown itself as a serious global player in the climate negotiations.
"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 play an important role in making Paris Agreement effective and equitable," said Chandra Bhushan, CSE Deputy Director General.
CSE also noted the Paris Agreement is "weak and not enough" to keep the global average temperatures rise below 2.0 degrees Celsius as compared to the pre-industrial era and developed countries have pledged very low emissions cut targets.
"The Paris deal is weak and erases historical responsibility of the developed countries in addressing 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," said Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE.
India today ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a significant push for the deal to enter into force by the end of this year.
The pact will come into force after it has been ratified by at least 55 countries which account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With India's move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 per cent of emissions have now ratified the accord.
Global research body, World Resources Institute (WRI) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made clear that his actions are driven by the necessity of blunting climate impacts today and for future generations but also the significant economic opportunities for a clean energy future.
"India's leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder with the global community on climate change, a common challenge that unites us all," Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, WRI told PTI.
WRI Executive Vice President said the country has one of the boldest renewable energy targets in the world, making it destined to be a major player in solar and wind markets.
He said India's ratification comes swiftly after the European Council's vote to have the EU join the Agreement.
"We are now on the verge of entry into force for the Paris Agreement at a pace that is one of the most rapid ever and faster than almost anyone imagined. This is an exciting moment in history as countries ramp up action and work collectively to address this global challenge," Bapna said.
CSE said 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 in Morocco as these issues are important for the poor and vulnerable population of the country," Bhushan said.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace India said it is now essential that India rationalises its energy policy and with India's ratification, the Paris Agreement has edged even closer to the moment where it enters into force.
"I am glad that the Indian government has acted decisively and ratified the Paris agreement, thereby strongly communicating its intention to move quickly to achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals. It is now essential that India rationalises its energy policy," said Greenpeace India Executive Director Ravi Chellam.
He said an analysis done by the body earlier shows that nearly USD 50 billion in scarce resources is currently being sunk to build over 60 GW of idle coal plants that India does not need and can ill-afford.
"This is a colossal waste of scarce resources that would be better used to achieve India's goal of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022," he said.
He said that the momentum behind this Agreement is a recognition of the danger of climate chaos, to which India is particularly vulnerable and the major emitters which haven't yet ratified must do so promptly.
"All countries must take action now, to meet and go beyond the commitments they have already made, so that the Paris Agreement goes down in history as the moment mankind stared climate catastrophe in the face, and did something significant about it.
"India's ratification increases the pressure on the rich, industrialised countries which have contributed the most to this problem, to raise their level of ambition on both, reduction of emissions and providing finance and technological assistance to developing countries," he said.
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