The US and China, together responsible for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, both formally joined the Paris global climate agreement. India, the world’s fourth-largest carbon emitter with its population of 1.3 billion people, ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on Sunday to become the 62nd nation to join the deal. The ambitious Paris agreement, signed in December 2015, requires the member countries to make binding commitments to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to keep global average temperatures from rising above 1.5°C as compared to the preindustrial years. It will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 countries accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions ratify it. Here’s all you need to know about where India stands among the world’s top polluters and what the Paris agreement means for it: India is responsible for 6% of the global CO2 emissions following China, which accounts for 28%, the United States for 16% and the European Union 10%. In terms of per capita CO2 emissions, 10 other countries are ahead of India. As part of the initial commitments to the agreement, India also plans to reduce its carbon emission intensity - emission per unit of GDP - by 33-35% from 2005 levels over 15 years. It aims at producing 40% of its installed electricity capacity by 2030 from non-fossil fuels. This would mean India will have to shift significantly from coal-based power generation to renewable energy sources. It will have to produce 100 gigawatts from solar, 60 gigawatts from wind, 10 gigawatts from biomass and 5 gigawatts from small hydropower by 2022.

However, United States has refuted reports that it was softening its stance on the Paris climate accord, insisting that Washington will still withdraw from the agreement unless it can re-enter on more favourable terms.

The statement on Saturday came after the Wall Street Journal and AFP news agency quoted Miguel Arias Canete, a top European climate official, saying the US will “not renegotiate the Paris accord, but will try to review the terms on which they could be engaged under this agreement”.

Canete said there would be a meeting on the sidelines of next week’s UN General Assembly with US representatives “to assess what is the real US position”, noting “it’s a message which is quite different to the one we heard from President Trump in the past.”

US President Donald Trump announced in June that he would withdraw the US from the 2015 global pact, arguing that it would undermine the US economy and national sovereignty. But he also left open the door to negotiating a better deal for US businesses and workers.

“There has been no change in the United States’ position on the Paris agreement,” said White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters on Saturday. “As the president has made abundantly clear, the United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favourable to our country.”

The US State Department submitted an official withdrawal from the pact to the UN last month

 —Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief

The US and China, together responsible for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, both formally joined the Paris global climate agreement. India, the world’s fourth-largest carbon emitter with its population of 1.3 billion people, ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on Sunday to become the 62nd nation to join the deal. The ambitious Paris agreement, signed in December 2015, requires the member countries to make binding commitments to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to keep global average temperatures from rising above 1.5°C as compared to the preindustrial years. It will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 countries accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions ratify it. Here’s all you need to know about where India stands among the world’s top polluters and what the Paris agreement means for it: India is responsible for 6% of the global CO2 emissions following China, which accounts for 28%, the United States for 16% and the European Union 10%. In terms of per capita CO2 emissions, 10 other countries are ahead of India. As part of the initial commitments to the agreement, India also plans to reduce its carbon emission intensity - emission per unit of GDP - by 33-35% from 2005 levels over 15 years. It aims at producing 40% of its installed electricity capacity by 2030 from non-fossil fuels. This would mean India will have to shift significantly from coal-based power generation to renewable energy sources. It will have to produce 100 gigawatts from solar, 60 gigawatts from wind, 10 gigawatts from biomass and 5 gigawatts from small hydropower by 2022.

However, United States has refuted reports that it was softening its stance on the Paris climate accord, insisting that Washington will still withdraw from the agreement unless it can re-enter on more favourable terms.

The statement on Saturday came after the Wall Street Journal and AFP news agency quoted Miguel Arias Canete, a top European climate official, saying the US will “not renegotiate the Paris accord, but will try to review the terms on which they could be engaged under this agreement”.

Canete said there would be a meeting on the sidelines of next week’s UN General Assembly with US representatives “to assess what is the real US position”, noting “it’s a message which is quite different to the one we heard from President Trump in the past.”

US President Donald Trump announced in June that he would withdraw the US from the 2015 global pact, arguing that it would undermine the US economy and national sovereignty. But he also left open the door to negotiating a better deal for US businesses and workers.

“There has been no change in the United States’ position on the Paris agreement,” said White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters on Saturday. “As the president has made abundantly clear, the United States is withdrawing unless we can re-enter on terms that are more favourable to our country.”

The US State Department submitted an official withdrawal from the pact to the UN last month

 —Prashant Tewari, Editor-in-Chief