Paris: French President Francois Hollande on Friday welcomed “a historic day for the planet as it marks the entry into force of the agreement on the climate”.
With ratification of 55 states, accounting for 55 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, commitments of the Paris climate summit in December 2015 “are now irreversible”, Xinhua news agency quoted Hollande as saying in a statement released by his office.
“After this milestone, the spirit of Paris will continue to be amplified by the implementation of coalitions for solar energy, renewable energy in Africa, the fight against desertification, ocean’s protection and the support for the most vulnerable countries,” Hollande added.
The Paris Agreement eyes $100 billion dollars a year from 2020. It also calls for efforts to keep the rise of global average temperature below 2 degree Celsius and to limit the increase to 1.5 degree Celsius.
Regarding the upcoming 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) slated for November 7-18 in Marrakech, Morocco, the French president said the conference “should be one of solutions”.
Hollande will be in Morocco on November 15-16 to take part in a summit on climate change held during the COP22.
—IANS