NEW DELHI: As a historic climate deal was agreed upon in Paris on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with many world leaders said the accord has demonstrated the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change.
Modi said that the outcome of Paris Agreement has no winners or losers and climate justice has won.
“Climate change remains a challenge, but Paris Agreement demonstrates how every nation rose to the challenge, working towards a solution. Outcome of the Paris Agreement has no winners or losers. Climate justice has won and we are all working towards a greener future,” Modi tweeted.
Calling it a turning point for the world, US President Barack Obama said the adoption of a landmark climate change deal represented the best chance for mankind to save the planet. “As a result of the climate agreement, we can be more confident that the Earth will be in a better shape,” he said.
The new legally binding agreement provides developing countries a chance to grow, but emerging economies like China and India will be under constant pressure to take mitigation measures for transition towards greener economic growth.
The civil society organisations termed the deal as weak and unambitious. “India has got right words like ‘equity’ and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ mentioned in many places, but historic responsibility has been completely done away with. There are terms like climate justice, sustainable lifestyle and consumption mentioned, but it must be noted that these are not in operational parts of the text and so there are no commitments for these things,” said the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
CSE director general Sunita Narain said the draft does not include any meaningful targets for developed countries to reduce emissions.