India Not Ready to Join US And China in Ratifying Climate Accord

China and the US announced they are ready to ratify the climate agreement, but it will take more time for India.

A protest calling for climate action in Paris ahead of the COP21 conference in December 2015. (Photo: AP)

The US and China just announced they are ready to ratify the Paris Climate Change Agreement, but India is not ready to join, an advisor to Modi told The Indian Express.

Yes, we are committed to ratifying it, but cannot complete the domestic procedures by 2016-end. It is a matter of internal procedures. We are a country of laws. You have to put in place those procedures.

Arvind Panagariya, Head of Government ‘Think Tank’ NITI Aayog

The agreement, signed by more than 160 countries, aims to limit global warming to under 2 degree Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in renewable energy.

China and the United states are the world’s biggest polluters, followed by the European Union and India.

The logo of the COP21 Climate Change Conference. (Photo: Reuters)

Unlike the world’s top polluters, India’s emissions per person are quite low. Most of the pollution comes from energy production and factories. In America, emissions amount to around 20 tons per person, while in India, each person accounts for 2.44 tons.

Developing countries like Brazil and Mexico have higher emissions per person than India, though India’s total emissions are way above both countries, according to the World Resources Institute.

Curbing emissions is the key to addressing climate change, but the global economy continues to rely on fossil fuels. (Photo: iStock)

Existing laws and subsidies need to be taken into account as India prepares to ratify the Paris accord, Panagariya, of the government ‘Think Tank’ NITI Aayog, told The Indian Express.

During international negotiations, India has repeatedly taken the stance that addressing climate change should not come at the expense of the country’s development. Around 300 million people live without electricity across the country, and the government hopes to bring electricity to these people by 2022.

Achieving this target through renewable energy will be impossible because the infrastructure for solar and wind power does not yet exist. India’s reliance on coal is expected to double by 2020 to meet its energy demands.

Still, the country is taking strides towards developing renewable energy. The government has given tax breaks to solar energy developers and has committed to reduce overall emissions.

Last year, Modi announced plans to cut India’s emissions between 33 to 35 percent by 2030. As part of this goal, he said 40 percent of the country’s electricity would be produced by renewable energy.

The country still plans to ratify the agreement, though it won’t happen before 2017, officials added.

(With inputs from Indian Express)