22.04.2016
The process begins: Record number of countries to sign Paris Agreement this Friday
Frankfurt am Main. A recording breaking 155 countries are set to sign the Paris Agreement this week in New York. The signing ceremony marks the starting point at which the ambition written into the agreement coming out of 2015’s Climate Summit gets written into domestic law in countries across the globe. The process varies for each country and can mark the beginning of a long road that hopefully eventually leads to ratification. The agreement will officially enter into force 30 days after ratification by at least 55 countries that account for at least 55% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
By any measure, the signing of the Paris Agreement is a landmark event that will certainly strengthen the international climate process and unite national governments worldwide on the goal of keeping global warming "well below 2 ºC" while gradually working towards a more ambitious 1.5 ºC target. The agreement, however, has its fair share of weaknesses – especially evident in the methodology used for the national pledges (INDCs), which are arbitrary and extremely difficult to compare on a country by country basis.
Climate Alliance applauds the agreement while warning of its shortcomings, maintaining its stance that we cannot rely solely on national governments to solve the climate crisis. The international community, too, is increasingly beginning to take notice of local authorities like those of the Climate Alliance, which are leading by example while serving as a source of inspiration in reaching international climate goals.
Climate Alliance’s review of COP21
List of Parties to the Paris Agreement
