NEW DELHI: India, the world’s third biggest carbon emitter, ratified the Paris agreement on climate change on Sunday on the birthday of the country’s famously ascetic independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.

India, with a population of 1.3 billion people, is the latest big polluter to formally sign onto the historic accord which now takes a major step towards becoming reality.

Environment minister Anil Madhav Dave said “India deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change” at the United Nations in New York.

“Great push to global actions to address climate change,” he added on Twitter.

The accord, sealed last December in Paris, needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55 percent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

With India’s move, a total of 62 countries accounting for almost 52 percent of emissions have now ratified the agreement to commit to take action to stem the planet’s rising temperatures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced last month that October 2, a national holiday, had been chosen as the ratification date because freedom fighter Gandhi had lived his life with a low-carbon footprint.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon and others have voiced confidence the accord will come into force by the end of the year, after a string of nations joined up, including the United States and China, the two largest emitters.

“India’s leadership builds on the continued strong political momentum from Paris for urgent global action on climate change,” Ban said in a statement.

“Action on climate change is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating a more prosperous, equitable and livable future for all people.”

US President Barack Obama also commended India’s move, writing on Twitter that “Gandhiji believed in a world worthy of our children. In joining the Paris Agreement, @narendramodi & the Indian people carry on that legacy.”

France also welcomed India’s ratification of the agreement. French Environment Minister Segolene Royal told AFP it would “allow the accord to come into effect in record time”.—AFP