September 2, 2016
The United States and China, the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change, significantly boosting the accord's chances of coming into force by the end of the year.
Hangzhou, China | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
On September 2, 2016, the United States and China, the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change. This significant event marked a major step forward in global efforts to combat climate change and significantly boosted the accord’s chances of coming into force by the end of the year.
The Paris Agreement, adopted on December 12, 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, is a landmark international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement requires countries to set their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead.
Negotiations and Adoption: The Paris Agreement was the result of years of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was adopted by consensus by 196 parties.
Initial Commitments: Both the United States and China had played crucial roles in the negotiations leading up to the Paris Agreement. They had announced their intended NDCs prior to the Paris conference, signaling their commitment to addressing climate change.
Bilateral Cooperation: In the years leading up to the formal joining, the U.S. and China had engaged in bilateral cooperation on climate change, including joint announcements on emissions reductions and clean energy initiatives.
Ceremony in Hangzhou: The formal joining took place in Hangzhou, China, ahead of the G20 summit. President Barack Obama of the United States and President Xi Jinping of China submitted their countries’ instruments of ratification to then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Significance: The participation of the U.S. and China was crucial because together they accounted for approximately 40% of global emissions. Their commitment was seen as a strong signal to other countries to ratify the agreement.
Boost to the Agreement: The formal joining by these two major emitters significantly increased the likelihood of the Paris Agreement entering into force by the end of 2016. The agreement required ratification by at least 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions to come into effect.
Global Momentum: The move by the U.S. and China helped to galvanize other countries to ratify the agreement, leading to its entry into force on November 4, 2016.
Long-term Impact: The commitment by these two nations underscored the global consensus on the need for climate action and set the stage for future international cooperation on environmental issues.
The formal joining of the Paris Agreement by the United States and China represented a pivotal moment in international climate diplomacy. It highlighted the importance of collaboration between major powers in addressing global challenges and set a precedent for future environmental agreements. Despite subsequent political changes and challenges, the Paris Agreement remains a cornerstone of global climate policy.
Source: en.wikipedia.org