Council statement on the ratification of the Paris Agreement

"The Council recalls that in December 2015 a historic outcome was reached in Paris when the world adopted the first-ever truly global and legally-binding climate agreement including by (a) holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, (b) increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and (c) making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development.

The Council recalls that the Paris Agreement emphasizes the intrinsic relationship that climate change action, responses, and impact have with equitable access to sustainable development and the eradication of poverty, recognizes the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and notes the importance of the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity including forests.

The Council recalls the global political commitment to fighting climate change made by 175 Parties, including the European Union and its Member States, who signed the Paris Agreement at the signing ceremony in New York on 22 April 2016, and recognises that more Parties have signed thereafter.

The Council recalls the March 2016 European Council Conclusions underlining the need for the European Union and its Member States to be able to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible and on time so as to be Parties as of its entry into force.

The Council notes the growing international political momentum in favour of early entry into force of the Paris Agreement and also calls for ratification of the Agreement by the European Union and its Member States as soon as possible. In this context the Council calls on Member States and the European Union to start taking the necessary steps to finalise their respective ratification procedures, in accordance with their constitutional and/or other provisions, as soon as possible, and to endeavour to take the necessary steps with a view  to deposit collectively their ratification instruments with the UN Secretary General.

The Council welcomes that a number of Member States have already initiated and some already completed their national ratification procedures.

The Council also welcomes the submission by the European Commission of a proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Paris Agreement. Implementation of the Paris Agreement has been high on the agenda of the Council at the technical and political level.

The Council confirms its commitment to implement, as a priority, the 2030 regulatory framework set out in the European Council conclusions of October 2014, including the binding EU 2030 climate target to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions domestically by at least 40% compared to 1990 emissions. On 15 July 2015 the European Commission published a proposal to reform the EU emissions trading system and the European Commission will come with other proposals in the non-ETS sectors as of July 2016, in line with the EU and its Member States intended nationally determined contribution.

The Council affirms its intention to regularly take stock of progress made in the domestic ratification procedures in all Member States."

• Timeline - Paris Agreement

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