“HISTORY will judge today’s effort as pivotal,” said Barack Obama on September 3rd as he and Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, formally committed their countries to last year's Paris climate agreement in the southeastern city of Hangzhou. The deal, negotiated by 187 countries, aims to limit global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. Its joint ratification by America and China, the world’s biggest polluters, heralds a new era of global cooperation on efforts to cut climate-changing emissions. It also gives a major push towards bringing the pact into force by end of the year, when Mr Obama will still be president. That is far earlier than was originally thought possible.
China’s legislature rubber-stamped approval on Xi Jinping’s say-so; Mr Obama intends to put the agreement into effect without consulting the Senate. Mr Obama argues that the agreement is not a treaty, but an executive action, and so does not require approval. Overall, 55 countries representing 55% of global emissions must ratify the agreement for it to go into effect. Now, thanks to China and America, 26 countries covering almost 40% of emissions have done so (the two...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/2bVVF0J
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