‘Promises made must be promises kept” as Paris Agreement comes into force

The landmark Paris Agreement on climate change enters into force today, 4 November 2016, having crossed by a wide mark the threshold of being ratified by at least 55 countries and by countries representing at least 55% of global emissions.

“The Paris Agreement offers us a world with cleaner air, healthier communities, more jobs and energy for all. Now we must seize that better world - and leave no one behind,” said Rachel Kyte, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General.

“Promises made must be promises kept.”

Once in force, the Paris Agreement will be legally binding for those countries that sign and ratify it. As of today, it has been ratified by 97 countries representing at least two-thirds of global emissions.

The agreement has taken only eleven months to come into force – one of the fastest paths ever for a United Nations multilateral agreement. Taking up the baton from Paris,

the next UN Climate Change Conference, COP 22, will kick off in Marrakech, Morocco, next Monday, 7 November, running until 18 November.

Countries will continue their work on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, with the central focus placed on enhancing ambition, promoting implementation and providing support.

They will also work hard to put in place measures for strengthening appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework as envisioned in the Paris Agreement, with a view to supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives.