EU calls for swift ratification of Paris climate agreement

Brussels, April 21 (IANS) The European Union (EU) on Thursday called for the swift ratification of the Paris climate agreement.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Commission Vice-President responsible for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic, and Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete are attending the high-level signing ceremony this Friday in New York, Xinhua news agency reported.

Sefcovic and Dutch Environment Minister Sharon Dijksma will sign the agreement on behalf of the EU, while Canete will deliver an official statement on behalf of the EU.

The ceremony, convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, followed the adoption of the climate change agreement in Paris in December 2015.

"The European Union was the first major economy to table its commitment in the run up to the Paris climate conference (COP21) and now looks forward to having the agreement ratified and entering into force swiftly," a press release said.

The Paris agreement set out a global action plan to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2 Celsius degrees.

It would enter into force once it has been ratified by at least 55 parties, representing at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.