India extended its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol on Tuesday in a move to cement the country as a leader in climate action, Ed King reports for Climate Home.

King reports that India, the world’s fourth-largest emitter, ratified the 2012-2020 period to signal “Delhi’s desire to protect the UN climate process.”

First adopted in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol commits parties to cut emissions and places a responsibility on developed nations to help poorer nations reduce emissions across their economies.

“In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India’s leadership in the comity of nations committed to global cause of environmental protection and climate justice,” read a statement released by the government of India.

Photo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the United Nations in September 2015 | Photo Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten