China, India Come Aboard Copenhagen Climate Change Pact

Two of the world's largest economic powers, China and India, have come aboard the international climate change agreement and committed to non-binding reductions of GHG emissions, the New York Times reported today. The commitments to the arrangements outlined at Copenhagen, Denmark, in December, mean that nearly 200 countries have signed up to work toward limiting the rise of global temperatures to no more than 2 degrees Celsius or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit beyond pre-industrial levels.

Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told Parliament recently: "After careful consideration, India has agreed to such a listing. We believe that our decision to be listed reflects the role India played in giving shape to the Copenhagen Accord. This will strengthen our negotiating position on climate change." Wrote the Times: "China's chief climate change negotiator, Su Wei, submitted a single-sentence letter saying that the United Nations 'can proceed to include China in the list of parties' signed up under the accord."