Explained: How do governments set climate targets?

In their recent joint declaration, India and France have committed to making long-term plans to contain emissions. While most countries set targets against a deadline, there is a case for longer-term planning

modi france visit, pm modi paris climate agreement, climate change paris agreement india, pm modi emmanuel macron, macron france modi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French President Emmanuel Macron at Chateau de Chantilly, near Paris, last week. (AP Photo)

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris last week, a substantial part — nine out of 34 paragraphs — of the joint statement by India and France was dedicated to the related issues of climate change, biodiversity, renewable energy, and ocean resources. It talked about the two countries’ commitment to enhanced climate actions, their support for new low-carbon technologies, and their ongoing efforts to accelerate development and deployment of renewable energy. It mentioned the need for sustainable use of marine resources, acknowledging the link between environment and security, and promised to work towards “ocean governance”.