Caring for nature part of Indian ethos, says PM Modi as India ratifies Paris pact

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said care and concern towards nature is integral to Indian ethos and the country is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change, as India ratified the Paris climate deal.

"Care & concern towards nature is integral to the Indian ethos. India is committed to doing everything possible to mitigate climate change," Modi tweeted.

India, the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, today ratified the landmark Paris climate pact, giving a major boost to the deal which appeared tantalisingly close to coming into force by the end of this year.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin handed over the Instrument of Ratification signed by President Pranab Mukherjee to Santiago Villalpando, the Head of the Treaties Division at the UN, at a special ceremony attended by top UN officials and senior diplomats to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's 147th birth anniversary.

During the BJP's National Council meet in Kozhikode recently, the Prime Minister had said," There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties).

"Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today, on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi."

The US today welcomed India's ratification of the Paris climate agreement with President Barack Obama saying that by joining the pact Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people have carried on Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.

France also lauded India's move saying the decision "brings us closer" to the coming into force of the pact before the end of the year.