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Paris Climate Agreement (India's Response)

by Sudarshan Sreeram | 01-07-2017 16:04



The main purpose of the Paris Climate Agreement is to bring countries together to accept the effects of climate change, come up with ways to combat it, and restrict the increase of global average temperatures above 2 degrees Celsius. The only tow countries which did not sign the agreement are:
  • Syria, due to their ongoing Syrian Civil War
  • Nicaragua, which criticized the Paris Climate agreement for not punishing countries which did not follow it properly.

What will happen if global average temperatures rise above 2 degrees Celsius?
If global average temperatures rise above 2 degrees Celsius:
  • Plant and animal species will lose their habitats, hence reducing the population of species. 
  • Flooding and severe droughts are likely to happen due to rising sea levels.
  • Temperature on Earth will rise to a point where it is irreversible. Places will be faced with extreme heat and unbearable temperatures.
  • Crop production will most likely fail and lead to food shortages.
  • Water resources will deplete in many places around the world.
  • Diseases will start to spread more quickly.
  • There will be social and economic instability.


India signed the agreement of 22nd April 2016 and its targets are focused on clean energy expansion. India plans to reduce its emissions by 30% to 35% by 2030, increase the share of renewable energy by 40% by 2030, focus on climate adaption strategies, and increase tree cover to create an additional carbon sink by 2030. 

Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that The United States Of America will be withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, but his decision is not supported by all the citizens in the US. In fact, 70% of them wanted the US to stay in the agreement. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that "playing with the well-being of the future generations would be an immoral and criminal act." India, being the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouses sees the need to take up responsibility and stay committed to the Paris Climate Agreement. Although India is the 3rd largest greenhouse gas emitters, it is ranked 128th in emissions per person due to its high population. 

US President Donald Trump justified his decision to withdraw US from the agreement by stating that, "The bottom line is that the Paris Accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States... India will be allowed to double its coal production by 2020. Think of it. India can double their coal production. We're supposed to get rid of ours." India is committed to the agreement irrespective of the path chosen by other countries. Before the US pulled out of the agreement, our Prime Minister said that "Paris or no Paris, it is out conviction to protect the environment. We have no right to snatch from our future generation their right to have a clean and beautiful Earth." 

Renewable Energy is the foundation of India's strategy to reduce greenhouse gases. India and other nations are committed to the agreement and will continue to move forward to protect the environment for the sake of the planet even though the US (2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases and 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gases per person) plans to pull out of the agreement.

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