STATEMENT FROM ADITYA PUNDIR, CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT INDIA BRANCH MANAGER ON THE PARIS AGREEMENT

India, the second most populous country in the world, joined the Paris Agreement on October 2, in a gesture honoring the late Mahatma Gandhi. Former Vice President Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project held a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Delhi in February 2015 to provide local leaders with the skills and tools to activate their communities and rally wide-ranging public support for action on climate change. Climate Reality also established a branch office in India that has been working to further climate action in the country. Aditya Pundir, branch manager for The Climate Reality Project India issued a statement on India’s acceptance of the agreement: 

“On October 2, India’s more than 1.2 billion people celebrated the 147th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a beloved international icon and apostle for peace and conservation. It is therefore incredibly fitting that India officially joined the Paris Agreement this week, paying homage to Gandhi’s legacy of generosity, hope, and peace. Gandhi lived his life in search of truth. We honor him today by acknowledging the truth of climate change and committing ourselves to action that will create a better world for our children and grandchildren.

“The Climate Reality Project applauds all nations that have officially joined the Paris Agreement. As branch manager for Climate Reality India, I especially congratulate India for its important contributions to solving the climate crisis and thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for leading the charge. Prime Minister Modi has consistently been an influential voice in the worldwide climate action movement, advocating for energy access and driving forward a bold, ambitious vision for deploying clean energy to those who need it around globe. Prime Minister Modi’s International Solar Alliance, an initiative to mobilize $1 trillion for solar energy by 2030, is a testament to his intrepid leadership on climate action.

“With India formally joining the Paris Agreement and the launch of the International Solar Alliance, our country invites the world to kickstart a clean energy revolution to help ensure energy access for all and a sustainable future for generations to come. The Climate Reality Project India is ready to heed Gandhi’s call to be the change we wish to see in the world, and we hope the global community will join us in the search for solutions.”