What is Paris agreement?
- The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.
How is ratification done?
- Countries follow different systems and domestic laws to adhere to international treaties or agreements.
- In India, approval of Parliament will not be required for the government to ratify the Paris Agreement. A Cabinet decision to this effect would be enough.
- The United States, on the other hand, would need the approval of both Houses of Congress to join the Agreement.
- In the case of the EU, ratification will be even more complicated because the consent of each member country will have to be obtained.
Importance of Paris Agreement
- The Paris agreement neither replicates the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change nor is it guaranteed to end global climate change.
- It does not also cater to all of India’s asks (or those of others) in the negotiations. It does, however, contain “hooks” and “place holders” to ensure that India can, if it so chooses, continue to shape the climate regime, for instance on the defining issue of equity.
- The Paris agreement embodies a hybrid architecture combining “bottom-up” and “top-down” elements.
- Nationally determined mitigation and adaptation contributions comprise the “bottom-up” element and a system of oversight comprises the “top-down” element.
- States have autonomy in the form and stringency of their contributions.
- States are expected to ensure that their successive national contributions represent a progression from their previous ones, but the nature and extent of “progression” is nationally determined.
An oversight system
- These contributions are paired with an oversight system consisting of three components
- A transparency system that ensures countries are doing what they agreed to do,
- A global stock-take process that periodically assesses collective progress towards the agreement’s long-term goals,
- And a compliance system that facilitates compliance with the agreement.
India’s interest in Paris Agreement
- India has a compelling interest in having a rigorous oversight system.
- India and its economic growth are vulnerable to climate change.
- In the absence of a rigorous oversight system, India will be left with an imperfect method of ensuring that other countries are keeping their promises, the world as a whole is moving in the right direction, and countries are sharing the burden equitably.
- In relation to transparency, India needs a system that is rigorous yet tailored to its own capacity constraints.
- In relation to the global stock-take process, we need the consideration of equity. India could introduce benchmarks — qualitative and quantitative — in the global stock-take process.
- In assessing collective progress towards long-term goals, this would cast light on the relative sharing of responsibilities between parties.
- This is key for countries like India with limited historical responsibility for climate change, low per capita emissions, high energy poverty and much of our growth ahead of us.
- It is only if we participate thoughtfully in the post-Paris negotiations on the oversight system that we will have a system that strikes the right balance between rigour for all and flexibility for those who need it.
Why India should ratify Paris Agreement?
- India’s ability to participate effectively in the post-Paris negotiations will be influenced by its approach to the ratification of the Paris agreement.
- Ratification of the Paris agreement signals a sense of ownership, commitment, good faith and continuing engagement.
- If we do not ratify, our ability to influence the post-Paris agenda, if we are on the sidelines, however, will be compromised.
- India should focus on shaping the post-Paris agenda to ensure that the oversight system is rigorous, effective and tailored to our constraints and capacities.
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