India’s Modi says ‘climate justice’ won in Paris accord

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the adoption of a landmark climate accord in Paris, saying it pointed the world towards a greener future.

“Outcome of Paris agreement has no winners or losers. Climate justice has won & we are all working towards a greener future,” Modi posted on Twitter.

“Climate change remains a challenge, but Paris agreement demonstrates how every nation rose to the challenge, working towards a solution,” he added.

In Paris, Modi had argued that India — the world’s third-biggest carbon-emitting country — needed to continue burning cheap and plentiful coal to rise out of poverty, arguing that richer nations should make deeper and faster cuts in their own emissions.

He applauded joint global efforts toward the climate pact Sunday.

“Deliberations at COP21 & Paris agreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change,” the leader said on Twitter.

Developing nations, including India, had insisted rich countries must shoulder the lion’s share of responsibility for tackling climate change as they emitted most of the greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution.

These issues have sparked tension over the years with the United States and other developed nations in the UN climate forum.

But Saturday’s adoption of the universal climate pact saw enmities fade, with India’s environment minister hailing it as “a new chapter of hope in the lives of seven billion people on the planet”.

“We have today reassured this future generation that we all together will mitigate the challenge posed by climate change and will give them a better Earth,” Prakash Javadekar said.