It means the Glasgow Climate Pact is the first ever United Nations climate deal to plan to reduce coal, responsible for greenhouse gases with harmful climate impact.
Countries, as part of the agreement, have also agreed to meet next year to discuss further carbon cuts so that the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius can be reached.
"It is so decided," said Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, as he declared the new pact with a stroke of his gavel after marathon talks which began earlier this month.
"I hope we can leave this conference united, having delivered something significant for people and the planet together as one," he said.
Several countries criticised the change on fossil fuels promoted by India, even as Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav asked the Glasgow climate summit how one could expect developing nations to make promises about "phasing out" coal and fossil fuel subsidies when they have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication.
Earlier, at a stocktaking plenary, India made an important intervention to express its disappointment over the draft text of the agreement.
The country expressed unfairness towards the developing world and pointed to a "lack of balance" and urgency around achieving climate finance targets.
"Mr president (Sharma) thank you for your continued efforts to build consensus. I'm afraid, however, the consensus remained elusive. India stands ready for constructive debate and equitable and just solution in this forum," Environment Minister Yadav said.
The minister pointed to climate friendly lifestyles and climate justice, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement, as keys to solving the climate crisis caused by "unsustainable lifestyles and wasteful consumption patterns".
Fossil fuels and their use have enabled parts of the world to attain high levels of wealth and wellbeing, and targeting any particular sector is uncalled for, he said.
Every country will arrive at net-zero as per its own national circumstances, strengths and weaknesses, Yadav stressed.
"Developing countries have a right to their fair share of the global carbon budget and are entitled to the responsible use of fossil fuels within this scope," he said.
"In such a situation, how can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies (when) developing countries still have to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication," the minister asked.
Speaking on the issue of subsidies, Yadav highlighted that they provide much-needed social security and support to people.
"For example, we (India) are giving subsidies for use of LPG to low-income households. This subsidy has been of great help in almost eliminating biomass burning for cooking and improved health from reduction in indoor air pollution, he said.
In the end, among major outcomes of the new deal was an agreement to make efforts to "phase down" the use of coal, phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and provide targeted support to the poorest and the most vulnerable in line with national circumstances.
Accelerating 2030 emission-cutting targets, increasing funding for developing nations to adapt to climate change by 2025, boosting the agenda on how to pay for loss and damage that climate change inflicts on developing countries, and agreeing to rules on carbon offset markets were also part of the deal.
Sharma, the India-born British Cabinet minister who was in-charge of the summit, appeared close to tears at the end as he apologised for "the way this process has unfolded".
"I am deeply sorry," he said, amid criticism from some countries on the final agreed draft.
"I also understand the deep disappointment. But I think as you have noted, it is also vital that we protect this package," he added.
Sharma had earlier made an impassioned plea to delegates to back the draft, saying it was a "moment of truth" for the planet as talks failed to conclude as planned on Friday and went into an extra day.
Terming it as 'Panchamrut Ki Saugat' - India's contribution to climate action called as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Modi while speaking on the first day of the high-level segment at the COP26 said India will reduce its carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030 starting with reducing projected carbon emission from now till 2030 by 1 billion tonne and committed to have renewable energy component of 50 per cent by 2030.
Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development through sustainable lifestyle. Displaying his penchant for acronyms, Modi said 'One Word One World' movement mantra -- 'Life, Lifestyle for Environment' can be a mass movement wherein instead of mindless and destructive consumption, there should be mindful and deliberate utilisation.
India's earlier target was to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels with already 24 per cent achieved by 2016. Ahead of the COP, India was under pressure from rich nations to declare a net zero target year -- where the amount of carbon emitted needs to be balanced with either removal or absorption of equal amount -- but had declared that it will be done at an appropriate movement.
The west has always painted India as the third largest emitter after China and the US while India has maintained its per capita emissions are nowhere near the highest emitters.
However, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, addressing media after the day's events here denied there was any outside pressure.
"It is for the posterity we are making this effort. It is an important commitment to our future generations. Net zero for India will mean the shortest gap from here and the peak emissions. The leader of a country that sets a target of 175 GW, he sets his own target of 450 GW and now sets a target of 500 GW progressively is not doing it under any pressure. The only pressure on him is the pressure of humanity, the pressure of our own future."
"India is not going to be pressurised; will not be pressurised and has never been pressurised in any way. We are doing it of our own volition. The projections are based on science," he said.
Modi called out promises made by rich nations till date have been hollow, and said, "Just like India has raised its ambition, the rich nations, too, need to raise theirs. Climate finance and technology transfer agreements cannot remain the same."
He exhorted the rich nations to enhance to 1 trillion US$ for climate finance and low-cost technology transfer and said it is needed to track climate finance.
Taking cudgels on behalf of the developing world, Modi appealed to all nations to take bolder steps.
This COP26 is deemed critical because as warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), every additional 0.5 degree of warming will increase heat extremes, extreme precipitation, and droughts and for coastal areas, sea level rise will be a threat to their very existence.
Before the COP, India had announced adaptation was one of the important aspects for consideration. Accordingly, speaking at a side event, the Prime Minister said adaptation, not mitigation, should get priority for the development imperative of developing countries.
"Adaptation does not get as much importance in the Global climate debate as mitigation. This is an injustice to developing countries, which are more affected by climate change," Modi said at the event on 'Action and Solidarity -- The Critical Decade' at COP26 Summit.
Modi held a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson where the two leaders reviewed the implementation of the 'Roadmap 2030' priorities, particularly in trade and economy, people-to-people, health, defence, and security areas. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in delivering the enhanced trade partnership, including steps taken towards the launch of free trade agreement negotiations.
He reiterated India's commitment to closely work with the UK on climate finance, technology, innovation and adaptation of green hydrogen, renewables and clean technologies, including joint initiatives under International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
"We are extremely grateful to the government of the UK for hosting this crucially important conference in these unprecedented times and for making every effort to keep all participants safe and healthy," UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said on Sunday.
"The devastating loss of lives and livelihoods this year due to extreme weather events clarifies how important it is to convene COP26 despite the impacts of the pandemic still being felt. We are on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7C, while we should be heading for the 1.5C goal. Clearly, we are in a climate emergency.
"Clearly, we need to address it. Clearly, we need to support the most vulnerable to cope. To do so successfully, greater ambition is now critical," she underlined.
Greater ambition is required to achieve progress on all elements of the climate change agenda, including reducing emissions, moving adaptation to the centre of the agenda, addressing loss and damage from extreme climatic events and increasing the provision of support to developing countries.
A central issue is the provision of support to developing countries, especially in relation to the goal of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020. Financial support is crucial for all elements of the climate change regime, including mitigation, but also in terms of adaptation, capacity-building, technology transfer and several other elements.
Many parties, especially developing countries, feel that in order to advance towards full implementation of the Paris Agreement, previous commitments should first be honoured.
Finalising the Paris Agreement's implementation guidelines will enable the full implementation of all provisions, which will unleash more ambitious climate actions by all its parties.
Specifically, the outstanding guidelines relate to the details around the global goal on adaptation, how to report climate action and support transparently, and the use of market-based mechanisms and non-market approaches.
"We have no choice but to make COP26 a success. For that, we need unity of purpose. We need to leave Glasgow with a balanced package of decisions that reflects the positions of all countries. With a willingness to compromise among the many perspectives we can arrive at workable, ambitious solutions that will help us keep the 1.5C goal within reach. We stand ready to work with all parties and to leave no voice behind to reach this important goal," Espinosa said.
Having been postponed by a year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and having to address items from COP25 held in 2019, COP26 has a huge agenda beyond the key aims.
Addressing the conference following his election, COP President Alok Sharma thanked delegates for travelling to Glasgow and outlined the urgent need for action.
"As COP President I am committed to promoting transparency and inclusivity. And I will lead this conference in accordance with the draft rules of procedure, and with the utmost respect for the party-driven nature of our process.
"In that spirit I believe we can resolve the outstanding issues. We can move the negotiations forward. We can launch a decade of ever-increasing ambition and action. Together, we can seize the enormous opportunities for green growth, for good green jobs, for cheaper, cleaner power.
"But we must hit the ground running to develop the solutions we need. And that work starts today. We will succeed, or fail, as one," he said.
Following a procedural opening on Sunday, to enable work to begin quickly, Monday and Tuesday will be the World Leaders Summit with the presence of Royalty and more than 100 heads of state or government.
The World Leaders Summit provides all heads of state or government with the opportunity to set the stage for COP26.
A number of key ministerial and other events around current climate change efforts will take place during the COP. These include the fourth biennial high-level Ministerial Dialog on climate finance, the first Ministerial Dialog on climate finance under the Paris Agreement, several workshops and events to advance gender-related issues and the annual meeting with the participation of indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge.
Leaving for Glasgow after a fruitful G20 Summit in Rome. During the Summit, we were able to have elaborate deliberations on issues of global importance such as fighting the pandemic, improving health infrastructure, boosting economic cooperation and furthering innovation, Modi said on Twitter.
The Prime Minister, who flew into Glasgow from the G20 Summit in Italy, is scheduled to begin the UK leg of his European tour with a meeting with community leaders and Indologists based in Scotland on Monday morning.
He will then proceed for the opening ceremony of the World Leaders' Summit (WLS) at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, where he is set to address the summit plenary session.
Modi's bilateral meeting with Boris Johnson is expected to take place soon after Monday's opening ceremony, which will include cultural performances and a speech by the UK Prime Minister. Johnson has said the summit will be the "world's moment of truth" and has urged world leaders to make the most of it.
"The question everyone is asking is whether we seize this moment or let it slip away," he said, ahead of the two-week conference.
His talks with Modi are expected to focus on the UK-India climate partnership as well as a stock-take of the 2030 Roadmap for stronger UK-India Strategic Partnership signed by the two leaders during a virtual summit in May this year.
Both governments remain committed to the implementation of the Roadmap, within prescribed timelines. Accordingly, we are looking to launch negotiations in November 2021 for an Interim Agreement to be signed in March 2022 and eventually a comprehensive agreement, if all goes according to schedule, by November 2022, India's High Commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, said ahead of the prime ministerial talks the first in-person meeting between Modi and Johnson following the UK PM's twice cancelled visit to India earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Modi-Johnson meeting will be followed by a leader-level COP26 event entitled Action and Solidarity: The Critical Decade, with Modi set to deliver India's national statement on the country's climate action to the delegates soon after.
India is among the top countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy, wind and solar energy capacity. At the WLS, I will share India's excellent track record on climate action and our achievements, Modi said in a statement ahead of the summit.
I will also highlight the need to comprehensively address climate change issues including equitable distribution of carbon space, support for mitigation and adaptation and resilience building measures, mobilisation of finance, technology transfer and importance of sustainable lifestyles for green and inclusive growth, he said.
India's focus at the COP26 Summit will be on the country's ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals for the post-2020 period under the Paris Agreement.
These include a reduction in emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level, as well as achieving 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030.
Predictable and consistent financing of green technology for developing countries will be another key area of focus for India.
At the end of day one of the World Leaders' Summit on Monday, Modi will join more than 120 Heads of Government and Heads of State at a special VVIP reception at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions.
The reception will also involve members of the royal family, including Prince Charles and wife Camilla and Prince William and wife Kate Middleton. Queen Elizabeth II was due to attend this special reception but pulled out last week after medical advice against travel.
On Tuesday, the final day of Modi's UK visit, the PM is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Nepal, Malawi, Ukraine, Japan and Argentina, as well as a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The launch of the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States initiative and a leader-level event entitled Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment are also scheduled for Tuesday before the Prime Minister flies back to New Delhi in the evening.
The India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) will launch a new Green Grids Initiative in partnership with the UK, with an ambition to connect different parts of the world with a common solar grid.
India has already proved that it has the innovation and political will to follow a sustainable development path. Also India has a huge opportunity to use new tech to pioneer a clean development path, he said.
In an exclusive interview with IANS here just hours before the official start of COP26 with calls for concrete climate action in Glasgow coming from all sectors, the High Commissioner to India said: "We have a packed agenda given that there hasn't been a COP for two years. Our expectations and aims are driven by science."
"The international scientific consensus is that the world is running out of time to avert great harm to ourselves and our planet, through climate change. The COP26 summit in Glasgow is our last best chance to avert this, by putting the world on the path to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.
"That means that globally we need to reach net zero emissions by 2050 -- with countries getting there at different speeds according to their stage of development. So as hosts of COP26, we are asking all countries to work together to keep the path to 1.5 degrees alive."
Laying out what success in Glasgow would look like, he replied: "We are asking all countries to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (short-term targets) and to make long-term targets in line with the 2050 goal. For this COP, we also need to flesh out some of the detail of the Paris Agreement on issues such as how carbon markets will operate in the future."
Believing the developed nations should meet climate finance pledge of $100 billion a year, Ellis, who remembers his time fondly while trekking in the Himalayas and taking in the night sky in the desert near Jaisalmer, said Britain also wants to ensure that countries are supported in adapting to climate change and that developed countries deliver the climate finance and technology flows to support green economic transformation in developing countries.
On the world expectation from India, the diplomat told IANS that India under Modi is already taking impressive climate action -- quadrupling wind and solar capacity in the last decade and now setting the 450GW target as well as launching the National Hydrogen Mission.
"Climate action must support development. India has already proved that it has the innovation and political will to follow a sustainable development path. India has already reduced the emissions intensity of its economy by 20 per cent compared to 2005 levels.
"So along with all countries, we are asking India to enhance their greenhouse gas target until 2030 and to set out a long-term strategy in line with the 1.5 degree goal."
On calls to the developed nations to reduce their emissions, he was categorical in saying, "The developed countries need to set out ambitious targets on climate action, and as the COP Presidency, we are pressing them to do so."
"India has a huge opportunity -- to use new tech to pioneer a clean development path. Climate action must support growth. Most of the infrastructure for energy and other needs that India will need by 2040 is yet to be built.
"India can leapfrog ahead using clean tech to develop, rather than locking into more polluting and ultimately more expensive high carbon systems."
At the same time, Ellis believes India is already on this path.
Prime Minister Modi's commitment to install 450GW of renewable energy by 2030 is hugely impressive. "We realise that developed countries too have their role to play and that's why the UK is pushing for COP26 to deliver the right flows of finance and technology to meet the needs of countries like India."
To mark a show of leadership, US President Joe Biden will be travelling to Glasgow on November 1 to attend the UN climate summit -- a pivotal moment on the road towards a more secure and sustainable future since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Also, Modi will be attending the climate talks that is expected to bring more than 120 world leaders together to discuss the best ways of tackling the climate crisis that the UN chief has called for a "massive mobilization" of political will that requires trust among the world's biggest economies -- the G20 -- and between developed and developing countries, including emerging economies.
On expectation from the nations to come forward with national plans on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, an optimistic envoy replied: "We have already seen countries like the US and Japan pledging to halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
"The next decade will set a path for the net-zero future vision. The UK last week published its own detailed strategy for how we will meet our net zero by 2050 goal."
Prime Minister Johnson's 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution reinstates the UK's commitment to build back better, support green jobs and accelerate the path to net-zero, he added.
The COP26 is the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties.
This year COP, after missing 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is being held under the presidency of the UK in Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city home to nearly 6,00,000 people, from October 31 to November 12.
The climate talks will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.
More than 120 firefighters were at the scene to tackle the blaze at Mackintosh Building, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said on Twitter.
Flames destroyed the building after it caught fire at around 11.15 p.m., on Friday, a BBC report said. The facility was completed by Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1909.
No casualties or injuries were reported in the blaze that spread to nearby buildings, including the Campus nightclub and O2 ABC music venue, which suffered "extensive damage". The renovated Mackintosh library had been due to reopen next year.
It was earlier devastated in the blaze that ripped through the building in May 2014. It was being restored in a project estimated to cost up to 35 million pounds.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Peter Heath said the fire damage was "exceptionally significant". He said it was likely that all the restoration work carried out since the last fire had been destroyed.
Unlike four years ago, art students were not using the now fire-ravaged building for their degree work. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.
"This is a very sad morning in the city of Glasgow," Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a statement. "Glasgow School of Art is an institution that is loved not just by its students, staff and the people of this city, but by many around the world."
Sindhu, a double World Championships bronze medallist, earned a hard-fought win over Hong Kong 13th seed Cheung Ngan Yi 19-21, 23-21, 21-17 in an hour and 27 minutes.
In the next round, Sindhu will face Chinese fifth seed Sun Yu, who got past Spanish 15th seed Beatriz Corrales 21-16, 21-19.
Saina, seeded 12th, registered a morale-boosting 21-19, 21-15 win over South Korean second seed Sung ji Hyun.
Meanwhile, Chinese teenager Chen Yufei stunned Japanese top seed Akane Yamaguchi 21-18, 21-19.
In the men's singles, eighth seed Srikanth registered a 21-14, 21-18 win over Danish 14th seed Anders Antonsen.
The next opponent for Srikanth will be South Korean top seed Son Wan Ho, who edged past Thai 11th seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-18, 21-13.
Chinese fifth seed and defending champions Chen Long crushed Indian 13th seed Jayaram 21-11, 21-10 to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Praneeth, 15th seed, lost to Chinese Taipei sixth seed Chou Tien Chen 21-19, 10-21, 12-21 in an hour and one minute.
Five-time world champion and Chinese seventh seed Lin Dan fought back from one game down to defeat England's Rajiv Ouseph 14-21, 21-17, 21-16.
Pranaav and Sikki, the 15th seeds, battled hard as they came close to upsetting the Indonesian seventh seeds Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto but the latter prevailed 20-22, 21-18, 21-18.
With the loss of Pranaav and Sikki, India's doubles campaign in the tournament came to an end.
"We know that overweight in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We also know that cancers take many years to develop. We therefore had a theory that already being overweight in childhood would increase the risk of RCC later in life," said lead author Britt Wang Jensen from Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital in Denmark.
RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer found in adults.
For the study, the researchers included 301,422 individuals from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register born from 1930 to1985.
The weights and heights were measured at the ages seven to 13 years, and body mass index (BMI) was used to categorise the children as normal-weight or overweight, suggested by the International Obesity Task Force.
During a median of 32 years of observation, 1,010 individuals (680 men) were diagnosed with RCC.
Among men and women, significant and positive associations were observed between childhood BMI and height, respectively, and RCC risk.
Children who grew from average to above average height had an eight per cent increased risk of RCC, the study said.
"Our findings that heavier and taller children have increased risks of RCC open the door to new ways to explore the causes of kidney cancer," Jensen said.
The study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity being held in Glasgow, Scotland from April 28 to May 1.