UK ratifies Paris Agreement in Marrakech as treaty enters into force
Fri 18 November 2016
View all news
The landmark Paris Agreement has entered into force and has also been ratified by the UK Government at the latest gathering of world climate leaders in Marrakech - COP22 - providing a clear sign of the continued commitment to climate action across the world. Leaders from eight countries, including the UK, also announced a commitment to increase the share of low emission vehicles in their government fleets.
Welcoming the completion of the domestic Parliamentary process that facilitated ratification, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), said: "The Paris Agreement sends a clear signal that cutting emissions globally will not only help countries respond to the impact of climate change, but it is also compatible with economic growth."
Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, who negotiated for the UK at the 22nd UN climate change Conference of the Parties in Marrakech said: "The UK is ratifying the historic Paris Agreement so that we can help to accelerate global action on climate change and deliver on our commitments to create a safer, more prosperous future for us all."
In recognition of the importance of reducing carbon emission in the transport sector, eight major nations including the UK (Canada, China, France, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States) signed a Government Fleet Declaration in Marrakech, pledging to increase the share of electric vehicles in their government fleets and calling on other governments to join them.
The Declaration emphasises the renewal of government fleets and showcases specific and voluntary commitments of these countries to accelerate the introduction of low emission vehicles in their vehicle fleets. The eight signatory governments are taking a leadership role, sending a strong signal for the need to speed up the transition to low carbon transport.
The Paris Agreement provides a framework for governments as well as business and investors to keep global warming well below 2°C, pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
The Department for Business press release said that COP22 is an important milestone which marks the shift from aspiration to implementation. "We are going to use this positive momentum to grow the UK low-carbon sector, which is already worth over £46 billion, as we continue to provide secure, affordable and clean energy to our families and businesses."
A UN spokesman, speaking from the climate talks in Morocco said that countries will move ahead without the United States, if necessary, following the election of Donald Trump as President-elect. Trump had said that he will "cancel" the Paris Climate Agreement within 100 days of taking office. Negotiators in Marrakech said, however, that such a move would seriously damage the credibility of the United States around the world.
Since the Presidential election Trump has altered his tone on climate change and the Paris Agreement saying that he now has 'an open mind' on the treaty (See Guardian news
link here). Asked by the New York Times about whether climate change is being caused by human activities he said: “I think there is some connectivity. Some, something. It depends on how much.”
Related Links
< Back to news list