UN chief congratulates India for formally joining Paris Agreement

United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday congratulated India for ratifying and formally joining the Paris Agreement after it deposited its 'Instrument of Ratification' at the UN.

"The Secretary-General warmly congratulates India for ratifying and formally joining the Paris Agreement today.

India's leadership builds on the continued strong political momentum from Paris for urgent global action on climate change," said a statement by the spokesman of the Secretary-General.

The statement added that with this, India now joins the 61 other parties that have deposited their Instruments of Ratification, which including India, together account for close to 52 percent of total global greenhouse emissions.

India's leadership moves the world an important step closer toward the 55 percent threshold needed for the historic agreement's entry into force this year

"The Secretary-General calls on all parties to accelerate their domestic procedures in order to join the agreement as soon as possible this year. Action on climate change is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating a more prosperous, equitable and livable future for all people," said the statement.

Earlier, The United States and France also welcomed India's move.

Adopted in Paris by the 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at a conference known as COP21, the agreement calls on countries to combat climate change and to intensify actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future, as well as to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.