Global accord on climate change warms up
LONDON/WASHINGTON: A landmark global accord to combat climate change officially took effect yesterday, putting pressure on countries to take action to slash greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
The 2015 Paris Agreement won swift backing last December by almost 200 countries including China, the US and the EU and has been described as the most complex global treaty since the Marrakesh (trade) Agreement, signed in 1994.
The accord passed a threshold on October 5 of 55 nations accounting for more than 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, allowing it to come into force 30 days later.
A previously anticipated time frame was given as 2020 but ratification was swift compared to other international treaties, showing strong international support. However, around 100 countries have yet to agree and much work needs to be done on the fine detail of the pact.
“This is a moment to celebrate. It is also a moment to look ahead with sober assessment and renewed will over the task ahead,” UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said in a statement.
“In a short time – and cer- tainly in the next 15 years – we need to see unprecedented reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and unequalled efforts to build societies that can resist rising climate impacts,” she said.
The Paris Agreement seeks to wean the world economy off fossil fuels in the second half of the century, limiting the rise in average world temperatures to “well below” 2ºC above pre-industrial times.
It also notes an ambition to limiting temperature rise even further to 1.5ºC.
The pact kicked off a rolling start in the Pacific region on Thursday. – Reuters