India on Thursday announced that it will not agree to the capping of aviation emissions by 2020, even as it looks to ratify the Paris climate change agreement that will come into force in November. According to a report by The Times of India, the Centre said reducing aviation sector emissions by 2020 would be an "injustice to India's economic growth". On Wednesday, the Union government approved the Paris agreement, which does not include the proposal to cap civil aviation emissions, and will submit its ratification to the United Nations on October 2.

A proposal promoting the reduction of civil aviation emissions and a carbon emission tax is being discussed at the International Civil Aviation Organisation meeting underway in Montreal. Officials said the organisation will soon adopt a global market-based measure on carbon emissions that will be the first of its kind in any industry sector. Developing countries, such as India, are resisting curbs that they feel will obstruct their economy's growth.

Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar told the press that the Centre was committed to reduced aviation sector emissions in the long run, but that it would not comply with the global market-based measure. He said, "There are more scientific ways to deal with it. We cannot put a stop to our growth."

The Paris Agreement was adopted by 195 countries, including India, in December last year. The agreement is expected to come into force during the United Nations Climate Conference, which will be held in Morocco in November. At least 55 countries that account for 55% of the world's harmful emissions need to ratify the agreement before it comes into effect. The countries that have ratified the agreement so far account for only 47.79% of global emissions, The Times of India reported. India, which accounts for 4.1% of global emissions, will bring it closer to the emission threshold of 55%.