Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the landmark climate change deal reached in Paris on Saturday night as the victory of “climate justice” and said there are no winners or losers in the outcome. World leaders too welcomed the Paris climate agreement. He appreciated how every country rose to the challenge and reached at the agreement at the Conference of Parties (COP)-21 and said deliberations showed collective wisdom of the world leaders to mitigate climate change.
“Outcome of #ParisAgreement has no winners or losers. Climate justice has won & we are all working towards a greener future,” Modi tweeted, commenting on the legally-binding pact which seeks to limit global warming to
“well below” 2 degrees Celsius and making developed nations commit $100 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries.
“#ClimateChange
remains a challenge but #ParisAgreement demonstrates how every nation rose to the challenge, working towards a solution,” the Prime Minister said in another tweet and added, “#Deliberations at #COP21 & #ParisAgreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change.”
The historic agreement signed by 195 countries was reached after tough deliberations for days.
Reacting to the deal, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the accord also supported developing country’s right to development and their efforts to harmonise development with environment, while protecting the interests of the most vulnerable.
“Today is a historic day. What we have adopted is not only an agreement but a new ‘chapter of hope’ in the lives of 7 billion people. Mahatma Gandhiji used to say that ‘we have not inherited earth from our ancestors, but we have it on loan from future generations,” he said.
Just before the 31-page document was finalised, French President François Hollande, who hosted the conference, called up Modi to apprise him of the latest status at the talks. “The Prime Minister appreciated this gesture of French President,” a PMO statement said.
However, Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the climate change agreement is “weak and unambitious” as it does not include any “meaningful” targets and has discharged developed nations from their historical responsibility.
“Developing countries have got words and promise of money while the developed countries have finally got rid of their historical responsibility of causing climate change. They have no legally binding targets on finance or emissions cuts,” CSE director general Sunita Narain said.
US President in an address from the White House said, “This (Paris) agreement represents the best chance we’ve had to save the one planet we’ve got. I believe this moment can be a turning point for the world.”
“As a result of the climate agreement we can be more confident the Earth will be in better shape,” he added.
French President Francois Hollande termed the day as a great date for the planet. “In Paris, there have been many revolutions over the centuries. Today it is the most beautiful and the most peaceful revolution that has just been accomplished,” Hollande said.
The international deal on limiting climate change represents “a huge step forward in securing the future of the planet”, British Prime Minister David Cameron said.