ARTICLE · 08 NOVEMBER 2016

Paris Agreement on climate change comes into force

Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

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For the first time, all countries agreed to make ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

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Introduction

In almost unheard of speed for an international agreement, the Paris Agreement which was adopted on 12 December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will come into force today (4 November 2016).

The momentum which followed COP21 saw 175 countries (out of the 191 countries which are signatories) formally signing the Paris Agreement in New York during a signing ceremony convened by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in April this year. However, each country was then required to formally 'ratify' the agreement.

The Paris Agreement provided that it would enter into force 30 days after the following two conditions were met:

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