Setting the stage for global climate action, the outcome text of the ambitious >Paris Climate Agreement set a binding 2 degree target for rise in global temperature. All countries will also take action endeavouring to keep temperature rise to >1.5°C over pre-industrial levels . The text will be taken up for consideration and adoption later this evening.
The agreement comes after unprecedented negotiations involving 196 member-parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and intense pressure from civil society organisations.
On the draft Paris Agreement, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said "We are happy that India’a concerns have been take care of in the final climate draft of the negotiating text."
He further added "It is a balanced text and is a way forward for the world." Mr. Javadekar told the media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had always advocated a sustainable lifestyle, and climate justice. Both find a place in the Agreement text. The solar alliance which the Prime Minister had launched was another success, bringing together 120 nations and winning plaudits from France. The French President, Francois Hollande had on Saturday called Mr. Modi about the Agreement, and he expressed hope that it would be a historic pact fulfilling the aspirations of seven billion people.
Major features of the text outlined by French Foreign Minister and CoP21 president Laurent Fabius are:
>> It takes into account the differentiation and responsibility of developing countries, and their respective capacities in light of national circumstances
>> Confirms the key objective of containing mean global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and to endeavour to limit it to 1.5 degrees
>> There will be five-yearly national contributions on actions taken to address climate change
>> There is provision for adaptation to climate change. Cooperation on loss and damage suffered by countries on a long term basis to provide necessary means to all countries for durable development.
>> Provision of 100 billion per year as a floor by 2020 to help developing nations.
>> A new figure to be defined for the period between now and 2020
>> Collective stocktaking every five years of national actions and consideration of steps if efforts are insufficient for the objective set
. >@JohnKerry and >@PrakashJavdekar are all smiles minutes before >#COP21 close. Good sign? >pic.twitter.com/8GQ7obaYWO
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) >December 12, 2015The French President, Francois Hollande joined Mr. Fabius and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in urging countries to adopt the agreement without pressing national differences. >The pact would ensure food security, public health, combat poverty, essential rights and ultimately, peace, Mr. Fabius said.
The French Minister warned that failure to conclude the text would lead to irrevocable loss of the credibility of multilateral process and the commitment to respond to international challenges. With agreement, various countries would get help to pursue their major concerns — Pacific and Caribbean countries to >avoid destructive sea level rise , Africa for technological development, Latin America to preserve its forests and countries depending on fossil fuel energy to achieve energy diversification.
Shortly before the text was released, the so-called High Ambition Coalition of about 100 countries including the United States, Norway, Mexico, Colombia — of which India is not part — announced that they had made a “final push”. These countries have sought a 1.5 degree target, and strict norms for emerging economies on transparency, measurement, verification and reporting regimes.
