After their quick ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement, China and the U.S., the world's first and second-largest emitters of greenhouse gases, have led by example ahead of other emerging and industrialized economies. It is high time that the EU and India, the third- and fourth- largest emitters, also show they mean business when it comes to limiting the effects of climate change.[Special coverage]
Ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, the presidents of China and the U.S. deposited instruments of ratification for the Paris Agreement to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday.
This is an incredibly significant act toward the treaty coming into force, as it requires at least 55 countries that together account for at least 55 percent of global emissions. With China and the U.S., 26 countries have ratified, accounting for 39.06 percent of global emissions.
It's fair to say that India has realized the importance of emissions reduction and has made some efforts. Before the Paris climate conference in December 2015, New Delhi submitted a long-term plan to reduce its emissions, pledging to cut fossil fuel emissions intensity by up to 35 percent by 2030, compared with the 2005 level. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint statement with U.S. President Barack Obama that India had begun the processes to enable the Paris Agreement to enter into force.
But while Ban was "hopeful and optimistic" that the agreement can be brought into force by the end of this year, Indian officials don't seem to think this way. After all, New Delhi has a dilemma to address.
India's Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in October that the country's top priority is poverty reduction since over one-fifth of Indians still live below the poverty line, measured by an income of $1.25 a day. It is clear, however, that if the Indian economy grows as quickly as it wants, emissions will continue to rise.
China has gone through a similar development stage to India, and it still has made significant commitment toward curbing global warming. India has striven to become a world power and to have a bigger say in international affairs, hence it needs to shoulder its due responsibilities and take actions, regardless of the difficulties, to help save the planet.
In this process, China can be a reliable partner. In its proposal last year, India pledged to aggressively ramp up its production of clean energy like solar power, hydropower and wind energy. This entails the transfer of proper technologies from other countries and China can provide a lot of useful technologies and experiences.
China is willing to strengthen its cooperation with India on curbing climate change. If India can make a firm commitment to emissions reduction, the joint work of the two largest emerging economies will undoubtedly help make the world a greener and better place.
