China announces ratification of Paris Agreement 2015
Q. Which country announced the ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2015, on September 3, 2016?- Published on 06 Sep 16a. China
b. US
c. Russia
d. UK
ANSWER: China
This gives a big boost to efforts to bring the accord into effect by the close of the year.
- United States was also expected to announce it was formally joining the Paris Agreement in Advance of the G-20 summit.
- Tensions rose between Beijing and Washington over cyberhacking, South China sea and planned deployment of the US anti missile system in China’s neighbour, South Korea.
- But combating climate change is one area where both large economies agree
- Together, the US and China produce 38 percent of the man made CO2 emissions of the world
- To build momentum for the deal to counter this, a 2030 deadline was set for emissions to stop rising
- China ratified this Paris Agreement, negotiated by representatives of 195 nations in Paris in 2015
- Agreement goes into force when joined by close to 55 nations that produce 55 percent of global emissions
- Before China’s announcement, 23 countries had ratified or otherwise joined the agreement representing just 1 percent of global emissions according to the World Resources Institute.
- Agreement’s long term goal is to keep global warming below 2 degree C (3.6 degree F)
- Temperatures have risen by 1 degree C (1.8 degrees F) since the industrial revolution. Aspirational goal of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees or 2.7 degrees F has not even been reached.
- Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to set national targets for reducing GHG emissions
- First cycle begins in 2020- only developed countries are expected to lower emissions in absolute terms
- Developing nations are encouraged to do so as their capabilities evolve over time
