Las Vegas Review-Journal

UN diplomats to work out details, financing for climate deal

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agreement — when he presides over the 22nd U.N. Climate Conference in Marrakech that starts Nov. 7.

“Once the treaty takes effect, the next steps will require concrete actions on the parts of world government­s to start implementi­ng concrete policies in order to adapt,” said Mezouar.

Mezouar told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that he expects India, accounting for around 4.5 percent of emissions, to ratify the agreement by the end of October and the European Union, responsibl­e for about 12 percent, to ratify by the end of the year.

On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that 60 countries accounting for nearly 48 percent of emissions had joined the agreement — just short of what is needed for the treaty to take effect.

Ban, who has made climate change a top priority since he became secretary-general nearly 10 years ago, said he also expects the Paris Agreement to be implemente­d before he steps down at the end of the year.

U.S. diplomats are also pushing other countries to accelerate their ratificati­on efforts so that the deal can enter into force before President Barack Obama leaves office.

Mezouar says developed countries are expected to come up with $100 billion in climate financing each year with half of that going to help countries adapt to green energy and the other half to mitigating the effects of climate change.

He said he hoped that money would attract twice as much in private investment.

“The more commitment­s are clear, the more access to financing is simplified, the cheaper the technology becomes and we will out bet on the future through the Paris agreement,” Mezouar said.

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