COP21 President calls for rapid ratification of Paris Agreement

French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius traveled here on Wednesday to present the conclusions of COP21, over which he presided at the end of 2015, to the European Parliament meeting for its plenary session. He appealed for speedy ratification of the "Paris Agreement."

COP21, which was held in Paris from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 of last year, the 21st conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, was praised as an historic turning point. The text was signed unanimously by the 195 participating states in addition to the European Union (EU) and aims for a reorientation of the global economy toward a low-carbon model and a progressive move away from fossil fuels.

"The success in Paris shows well that together we can go very, very far," declared the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, welcoming Fabius in the parliamentary hemicycle.

The president of COP21 praised the "very important role of China, which took very strong positions" as well as "the commitment of President Obama."

"The Paris Agreement showed that diplomacy can lead to results," declared the French foreign affairs minister to the parliamentary assembly. For the president of COP21, this agreement "universally recognized as ambitious" has allowed the "coming together of all nations" and to formalize the principle of "solidarity of rich nations toward the most vulnerable," underlined Fabius.

"The dynamic unleashed in the indispensable fight against climate imbalance is irreversible," affirmed Fabius. "There is a before Paris and an after Paris," he insisted.

"The European Union was one of the first to publish its national contribution, in March 2015. It must continue, in my opinion, to set an example, signing the Paris agreement on April 22, then ratifying it as soon as possible," pleaded the French foreign affairs minister.

During the debate, the principle leaders of the parliament's political groups largely applauded the Paris Agreement. French ecologist Yannick Jadot nevertheless pointed out that all regions of the world are progressing in terms of investment in renewable energies except Europe. He argued that France should take the initiative to hold a major conference on the issue.

The Paris Agreement, whose entry into force is fixed for 2020, must be the object of ratification, acceptance, appropriation or accession, starting on April 22 of this year, by "at least 55 countries," representing "at least 55 percent of global emissions." The European Parliament must give its consent to the agreements ratification by the European Union. Endite