175 nations sign historic climate deal at UN

  At least 175 nations, including India, on 22nd April signed the Paris climate agreement at the UN headquarter. The pact, negotiated last year , is aimed at reducing carbon emissions to combat global warming. The signing ceremony set the record for the most countries to sign an international treaty on one day, previously set in 1982, when 119 countries signed the Law of the sea convention.

                  On behalf of India, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar signed the agreement at a high-level ceremony hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the occasion of Earth Day (22 April).The ceremony was attended by heads of governments, foreign ministers, corporate leaders and artists from across the world.

The agreement will come into force 30 days after at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC, accounting for at least 55 per cent of global emissions ratify the agreement. 

Highlights :

The Paris Agreement :

• The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.
•  An agreement on the language of the treaty was negotiated by representatives of 195 countries at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in Paris and adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015.
• In the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Developed countries will provide 100 billion dollars annually to the developing counterparts beginning in 2020 and it would increase with time.

Key Notes :

United Nations-

• Head quarters- New york city
• Membership- 193 countries , 2 observer countries
• Secretary general - Ban Ki-moon
• Established - 24 October, 1945