The Gist of Science Reporter: January 2017
- Action on Climate Change (Free Available)
- Combating Chromium (Free Available)
- Historic Launch by ISRO (Free Available)
- Mercury Exposure from Dental Fillings (Only For The Subscribed Members)
- Thin Films from Spectacles to Surveillance (Only For The Subscribed Members)
Action on Climate Change
In recent days, two developments have signalled India's resolve to work with the world community to contain the global rise in temperature below the 2°C warning mark. On 2 October 2016, India ratified the Paris Agreement and on 15 October 2016 the country joined around 200 other countries to seal a legally binding agreement in Kigali, Rwanda to reduce greenhouse gases.
India became the 62nd country to ratify the Paris Agreement. The agreement opened for signature for one year on 22 April 2016. The agreement was supposed to enter into force one month after 55 countries that account for 55 percent of global emissions ratified the agreement. Since India accounts for 4.1 per cent of the emissions, after its ratification the Agreement required around 3 percentage points to reach the 55 per cent threshold. This threshold was achieved on 5 October 2016 when 79 countries, of the 197 member countries, ratified it. Consequently, the Paris Agreement will now enter into force on 4 November 2016.
Among the primary aims of the Paris Agreement are the resolve to keep the increase in the global average temperature below 2°C. It requires all countries to come up with respective national climate action plans to limit global temperature rise and to put their best efforts through an NDC (nationally determined contribution). The Agreement also calls upon developed economies to help poorer nations by providing climate finance of $100 billion a year by 2020.