The era of consumption without consequences is over”, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told the gathering that sets a record for worldwide diplomacy: “Never have so many countries signed an agreement on the first available day.
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Such a large number of countries coming together and signing the agreement is significant.
Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has been working towards the cause of environment and he recently urged world leaders signing the Paris climate deal to deliver on their commitments to cut greenhouse gases, telling them: “The world is now watching”, say reports.
He also said the participation by so many countries, including the United States, leaves “no doubt” that the global community is determined to take climate action.
World leaders have agreed at the United Nations headquarters to ratify the Paris climate deal and get the ball rolling on plans to check global warming. In a statement, Zhang Gaoli, China’s Vice Premier, said, “China will finalize domestic legal procedures on its accession before the G20 Hangzhou summit in September this year”.
“This will supplement our substantial energy efficiency efforts and other mitigation measures to lower our Emissions Intensity by 36 per cent from 2005 levels and to stabilize our emissions around 2030”, he said.
He pledged that Canada would invest £1.8 billion over the next five years to help such countries meet the goals of the climate agreement.
Speaking alongside the United Nations secretary general, French President François Hollande applauded all those who made it possible to reach the second stage of the process – the signing of the document. The deal will enter into force after 55 countries that account for at least 55% of global emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification.
India has maintained that the burden of fighting climate change can not be put on the shoulders of the poor after decades of industrial development by the rich nations.
While noting that the countries are signing a new covenant with the future, Ban cautioned that the world is in a race against time.
The signing of climate change agreement coincides with global Earth Day celebrations.
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Last month was the hottest March in modern history and 2016 is shaping up as a record-breaking year for rising global temperatures. “Climate change will test our intelligence, our passion and our will but we are equal to that challenge”.
