Paris pact: Greenpeace urges India to galvanise support

Terming as "significant" the signing of the Paris agreement by various countries, including India, Greenpeace today urged the government to galvanise political support to ensure ratification of the pact at the earliest.
On a day India, along with other countries, signed the Paris Climate Agreement in New York, Greenpeace India said the deal won't take effect until at least 55 countries representing 55 per cent of the world's emissions ratify it.
"The signing of the Paris Agreement is an important and significant step. We welcome India's desire to be a solution provider. It is critical to remember that the agreement won't take effect until at least 55 countries representing 55 pc of the world's emissions ratify it.

"Keeping in mind the constructive and leadership role India seeks to provide in this global process, we would urge the government of India to galvanise political support that ensures the ratification of the agreement at the earliest," it said in a statement.
The NGO said that even as officials from over 120 countries including India, gathered to sign the Paris Agreement today at New York, latest scientific data reinforces the urgency for action.
The first three months of 2016 were the warmest on record - in February, as temperatures were a staggering 1.35 degrees Celsius above the long term average.

The melting of the Greenland ice sheet is happening at an unprecedented rate while closer home, India is experiencing hottest summer ever and millions of Indians are facing the consequences of a severe drought, it said.