India will ratify its U.N. climate change commitments next month to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and as a tribute to Deendayal Upadhyaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday.
“On October 2, we will ratify it. Mahatma Gandhi’s life perhaps left the least carbon footprint on earth. We follow his ideals and India will play its part in ratifying the Paris agreement,” Mr Modi told delegates at the BJP’s national council meeting in Kozhikode.
The announcement comes a day before External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to speak at the U.N. General Assembly.
The Prime Minister’s announcement was welcomed by the US government that said it was “thrilled”. “We are very excited to hear the PM's announcement today on India's intention to ratify the Paris Agreement early next month,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal told The Hindu.
(With inputs from Varghese K. George in Washington & Nistula Hebbar in Kozhikode)
