COP21: PM Narendra Modi, world leaders hail Paris deal, CSE’s Sunita Narain calls it weak

PARIS|NEW DELHI: World leaders on Sunday welcomed the climate deal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing it as a victory of "climate justice" while the pact evoked mixed reactions from environmentalists.

"This agreement represents the best chance we’ve had to save the one planet we’ve got. I believe this moment can be a turning point for the world," US President Barack Obama said in an address to the nation from the White House. In Delhi, Modi tweeted, "Outcome of #ParisAgreement has no winners or losers. Climate justice has won & we are all working towards a greener future."

Commenting on the legally-binding pact which seeks to limit global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius and makes developed nations commit $100 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries, he said, "#ClimateChange remains a challenge but #ParisAgreement demonstrates how every nation rose to the challenge, working towards a solution." "Deliberations at #COP21 & #ParisAgreement demonstrates the collective wisdom of world leaders to mitigate climate change," he said.

The international deal on limiting climate change represents "a huge step forward in securing the future of the planet", British Prime Minister David Cameron said.

However, Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the climate change agreement is "weak and unambitious" as it does not include any "meaningful" targets and has discharged developed nations from their historical responsibility. "Developing countries have got words and promise of money while the developed countries have finally got rid of their historical responsibility of causing climate change. They have no legally binding targets on finance or emissions cuts," CSE director general Sunita Narain said. "The phrase ‘historical responsibility’ has been erased from the agreement and this weakens the obligations of developed countries to take actions due to there past emissions."