UNITED NATIONS, Oct 2 - India, the world�s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, today ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, giving a significant push for the deal to enter into force by the end of this year.
Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee, to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony here attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi�s birth anniversary.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lauded India�s �climate leadership�, saying India�s ratification of the Paris Climate Change agreement moves the world an �important step closer� toward achieving the goal of entering the landmark deal into force this year.
In his message for the International Day of Non-violence, marked every year on Gandhi�s birth anniversary, Ban Ki-moon said there is no better way to commemorate Gandhi and his legacy for people and the planet than with India submitting its instrument of ratification to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
�I warmly congratulate India for its climate leadership, and for building on the strong momentum we see from all corners of the globe for the agreement to enter into force as quickly as possible this year. India�s ratification of the agreement moves the world an important step closer toward achieving that goal,� he said calling upon all countries to complete their domestic processes for ratification and also strive in all activities to achieve progress through non-violence. � PTI
