Paris Agreement enters into force on 4 November
The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, officially enters into force on 4 November 2016 - four years earlier than originally expected. Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks commented:
"This is a historic turning point for climate action. The Paris Agreement has become international law and now forms the basis on which the entire world is working towards climate-friendly economic practices. Never before has an international treaty of such importance entered into force so quickly. And never before have the odds looked so good for global climate action. We now need to turn our words into actions. The Paris Agreement provides the international community with long-term guidance and a common, legally binding, goal. The agreement sets out principles for implementation in the form of national climate action plans which must be updated regularly in order to learn from experience and adapt to technological developments. The Climate Action Plan 2050, which the German government intends to adopt soon, follows these same principles.
The early entry into force gives us momentum for the next climate conference in Marrakesh starting next Monday, where Germany will be strongly advocating swift and ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement."
Background
As of 3 November 2016, the Paris Agreement has been ratified by 94 countries representing 66 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. For the agreement to enter into force it needed to be ratified by 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions. On 5 October, Germany and the EU brought the Paris Agreement over the threshold for entry into force. The first Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement will be opened during COP 22 in Marrakesh on 15 November.