EU approves the ratification of the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement on climate change that was agreed in December last year, is to enter into force after the voting in Strasbourg.
The European Parliament plenary approved and concluded the ratification of the Paris Agreement in Strasbourg. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated “Slow delivery on promises made is a phenomenon that more and more risks undermining the Union’s credibility. Take the Paris agreement. We Europeans are the world leaders on climate action. It was Europe that brokered the first-ever legally binding, global climate deal. It was Europe that built the coalition of ambition that made agreement in Paris possible. I call on all Member States and on this Parliament to do your part in the next weeks, not months. We should be faster,” adding: “Today the European Union turned climate ambition into climate action. The Paris Agreement is the first of its kind and it would not have been possible were it not for the European Union. Today we continued to show leadership and prove that, together, the European Union can deliver.”
So far, 62 parties, accounting for almost 52 % of global emissions have ratified the Paris Agreement. The Agreement will enter into force 30 days after at least 55 parties, representing at least 55% of global emissions have ratified. The EU ratification and deposit will cross the 55% emission threshold and therefore trigger the entry into force of the Paris Agreement.
The European Union is a global leader on climate action, and had a decisive role in the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December. The legislative proposal of the European Commission for the reduction of the emissions by at least 40% by 2030 was already brought forward.
Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “Our collective task is to turn our commitments into action on the ground. And here Europe is ahead of the curve. We have the policies and tools to meet our targets, steer the global clean energy transition and modernise our economy. The world is moving and Europe is in a driver’s seat, confident and proud of leading the work to tackle climate change.”
Source: European Commission Press Release Database
Read more here.
