The actions needed to reduce
emissions and build climate resilience
are the very same that are needed
to lay the foundation for prosperity
and security for all.
In April, a record-number of Member
States signed the Paris Agreement on
climate change. Now we need to bring
that Agreement into force this year.
To help advance this process, I will
convene an event on September 21st,
the morning, this year, from 8-9 o’clock,
for countries to deposit their instruments
of ratification. We have 178 countries
who have signed this Paris Agreement,
and 19 countries have deposited their
instrument of ratification. As you are
well aware, we need the 55 countries
to ratify, and 55% of global greenhouse
gas emissions accounted. So we need
to do much more.
These 19 countries all accounted
is less than 1% of greenhouse gas
emissions. We very much encourage
those countries like United States and
China, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico,
Argentina, many countries, at least
40 countries who committed that they
will ratify this Paris Agreement before
the end of this year. It would be much
better and desirable - I may be too
ambitious to ask you - if we can ratify,
make it enter into force, before we go to
Marrakesh in November - that would be
even much better. If not, by December
this year, so that we can really make an
accelerated process in implementing
this climate change agreement. That’s
why I am going to convene this meeting,
summit meeting, for those ratifiers.
All who are committed to ratify. And
please make sure that your country
makes an accelerated process of
ratification of this agreement.
Tackling climate change is essential
for sustainable development, without
any doubt.
The actions needed to reduce
emissions and build climate resilience
are the very same that are needed to lay
the foundation for prosperity and security
for all and set the world on a sustainable
footing for generations to come. ■
Secretary-General’s remarks at High-Level Political
Forum on Sustainable Development, New York, USA,
19 July 2016
63