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Laos promotes low-carbon growth under Paris Agreement

Xinhua, September 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

Laos has joined forces with other nations to promote low-carbon growth and a more sustainable future under the Paris Agreement, which is expected to enter into force at the end of 2016, Lao state-run daily Vientiane Times reported Friday.

"Since the Paris Agreement will serve as a legal instrument for countries to combat climate change, Laos is the first country among Southeast Asian nations to ratify the landmark deal," the report said.

Laos is not exempt from the impacts of climate change despite being a land-locked country. In recent years, Laos has experienced severe flooding and drought, affecting livelihoods and socio-economic development.

Lao government is working in cooperation with friendly nations and international organizations to respond to climate change and focusing on sustainable use of natural resources, said the Lao daily.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a special high-level event on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York which was also attended by Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.

At the event, 31 additional countries joined the agreement, bringing the total to 60 countries that together represent more than 47.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Among the 31 nations were three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states - Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Thailand.

The Paris Agreement calls on countries to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

Specifically, it seeks to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a UN report. Endit