Paris climate summit

Paris climate summit 'future of planet at stake'

In Paris climate change talks, the debating chamber was full and the atmosphere tense. Ministers from 196 countries came with observers packed into the overflowing hall.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, talked animatedly with his officials, while China’s foreign minister Xie Zhenhua wore a troubled look. They had been waiting in this hall for almost two hours. The French hosts had trooped in to take their seats on the stage, ready to applaud on schedule at 5.30pm – but it took place after 7pm, and the platform was deserted.

INDC goals outlined

The major voluntary pledges made by India for the post-2020 period were outlined for the heads of state by India's PM Mr. Modi, with particular mention of the plan to  reduce carbon intensity of growth by 33-35 per cent over 2005 levels, raise the share  of non-fossil fuel power to 40 per cent by 2030, and to produce 175 GW of renewable power by 2022.

Modi said forest cover would be expanded to absorb 2.5 billion tonnes worth of co2 and fossil fuel dependence would be reduced by imposing taxes as well as cutting subsidies. Cities would be transformed through improvements to their efficiency and improving public transport.

According to 2014 scientific assessments, India was the third largest emitter of atmosphere-warming greenhouse gases (7 per cent), with China (25 per cent) and the U.S. (15 per cent) occupying the first two positions.  However, viewed in historical terms, India's contribution to the cumulative  stock of gases already in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution is negligible, with America occupying the major share.