India ratifies Paris climate change accord

India followed in the footsteps of the United States and China on Sunday, ratifying the Paris climate change deal at the United Nations in New York City.

With India as a signatory, the agreement is just shy of meeting its requirements to go into effect: The deal must be signed by at least 55 countries representing 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. With India on board, 62 nations representing 52 percent of emissions have signed, and 14 more countries representing 12 percent have promised to sign by the end of the year. The deal's proponents are pushing for quick signatures so Republican Donald Trump cannot fulfill his promise to undo it should he win in November.

India's signing date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Mohandas Gandhi. "Looking back, many now regard [Gandhi] as an avid and early environmentalist," said Syed Akbaruddin, India's permanent representative at the United Nations. "Encapsulating the whole idea of sustainable development more than seven decades ago, he had said, 'The earth, the air, the land, and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to hand over to them at least as it was handed over to us.'"

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