India ratifies Paris Agreement, EU nations join in
Q. Ministers of how many European countries jointly approved the ratification of the global climate deal on September 30, 2016?- Published on 03 Oct 16a. 25
b. 28
c. 29
d. 30
ANSWER: 28
India’s highest decision making body- the Union Cabinet approved the country’s move to ratify the Paris Agreement, following which India became a signatory to the same on Oct 2, 2016.
- Decision to ratify the international climate deal was also taken by 28 EU nations on September 30
- Decision taken by the Environment Council in Brussels will now go to the European Parliament for approval in Oct 2016
- Once the European Parliament consents, the decision can be formally adopted by the Council
- This is the first ever universally binding climate change agreement with 61 countries accounting for 47.79 percent of the total global emission, have ratified the agreement adopted by 195 nations in Paris in December 2015
- Agreement will enter into force 30 days after close to 55 countries, responsible for at least 55 percent of global emissions, deposit their instruments of accession, acceptance, ratification with the UN Secretary General
- European Union countries account for 12.10 percent of the total global emission of GHG while India accounts for4.1 percent of the total international emission
- India has taken the decision to submit the instrument of ratification on October 2, the 147th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
- According to a government statement: ”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”.
