Victory of “climate justice”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the landmark climate change deal reached in Paris last night as the victory of “climate justice” and said there were no winners or losers in the outcome.

“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 USD 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. He also said the deliberations showed collective wisdom of the world leaders to mitigate climate change. He added: “Deliberations at #COP21 & #ParisAgreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change.”

Major features of the text outlined by French Foreign Minister and CoP21 president Laurent Fabius are:

1              It takes into account the differentiation and responsibility of developing countries, and their respective capacities in light of national circumstances.

2              Confirms the key objective of containing mean global temperature rise 'well below' 2 degrees Celsius and to endeavour to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

3              There will be five-yearly national contributions on actions taken to address climate change.

4              There is provision for adaptation to climate change. Cooperation on loss and damage suffered by countries on a long term basis to provide necessary means to all countries for durable development.

5              Provision of 100 billion per year as a floor by 2020 to help developing nations.

6              A new figure to be defined for the period between now and 2020.

7              Collective stocktaking every five years of national actions and consideration of steps if efforts are insufficient for the objective set.