India Ratifies Climate Change Deal

India, the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, formally joined the Paris agreement on tackling climate change on Sunday, the United Nations said, taking the global pact a step closer to its enactment. The deal, agreed by nearly 200 countries in Paris last December, aims to slash greenhouse gas emissions by shifting away from fossil fuels to limit global warming to “well below” 2°C compared to pre-industrial times, Reuters reported. Next week, the European Union is expected to complete the joint ratification of the climate pact, which will be a major milestone as it would take approvals past the 55% mark and put the deal into effect ahead of the next round of climate talks in November in Morocco. But it needs to be formally ratified by countries representing at least 55% of global carbon dioxide emissions. India had called for more work on the agreement ahead of its ratification on Sunday, with its environment ministry saying the Paris agreement laid a “broad framework” but detailed guidelines and rules were needed for it to become operational. The ministry also criticized developed countries, saying their populations “live extravagant lifestyles with a high carbon footprint”.