The United States and China announced that they will formally join the Paris climate agreement as reported by Inhabitat.
The world’s top polluters account for about 37.98% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 17.89% from the United States and 20.09% from China. The Paris climate deal needs to be ratified or approved by 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions in order for an agreement to enter into force. The Chinese and United States announcement brings the total ratifications to 26 and total emissions to 39.06%
US President Barrack Obama confirmed last Saturday that the United States will join the Paris climate agreement. The President was accompanied at the announcement by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The Chinese government announced their ratification earlier in the day in a report from their state news agency, Xinhua, stating that the parliament, the National People’s Congress, had voted to ratify.
These announcements gave a huge push to the G20 summit that was scheduled to start the next day in Hangzhou.
Ranping Song, an expert at the World Resources Institute, told The Guardian that the United States and China ratifications will lead to a September surge with major polluters like Brazil joining the climate deal. Song said the China and US move increases the chances that the Paris climate agreement will be implemented by the end of the year.
Click here to read the full story on Inhabitat
Featured Image Credit: Dean Hochman
Solar Trust Centre Team
