Austria ratifies Paris Agreement on climate change

The Austrian National Council on Friday ratified the international Paris Agreement concerning climate change, Austria Press Agency reported.

All of the parties in the parliament voted in favor of ratification of the agreement with the sole exception of the far-right Freedom Party, whose delegates cited concerns such as how to finance the measures stipulated in the agreement, and concerns over potential job losses.

The majority support, however, means that of the 178 nations to sign the agreement, Austria has now become the 19th to go on to also ratify it.

Minister for Environment Andrae Rupprechter said in a speech during the session that the ratification of the agreement is probably one of the most important legislative resolutions made in the current political term. Endit