France hopeful climate accord can take effect by November
Source: China Post (09/21/2016)
France's environment minister on Monday voiced optimism that the Paris global accord on fighting climate change will come into force by November.
Segolene Royal, president of the so-called COP21 conference behind last year's far-reaching agreement in Paris, said the goal was to put it in place before the next meeting opens on Nov. 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
"The awareness of the importance of the ratification is bearing fruit," she said on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly where the Paris accord will be the focus of attention on Wednesday.
The agreement asks all countries to develop plans to keep the planet from warming more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
To take effect, at least 55 countries that account for 55 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions must formally enter the agreement.
The Paris accord received a major boost earlier this month when Mainland China and the United States, the two top emitters, both committed to it during a summit.
A total of 28 parties that account for 39 percent of emissions have so far ratified the Paris accord, according to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.