Roundup: European Parliament vote to trigger entry into force for climate deal

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved European Union (EU) ratification of the Paris agreement on fighting climate change, paving the way for the international deal to come into force earlier than predicted.

With 610 votes in favor, 38 against and 31 abstentions, the European Parliament gave its consent to EU ratification and signaled it would join China, India, the United States, and other global players in trying to limit the worldwide impact of climate change.

The agreement, which was negotiated and drafted during the international COP21 conference in Paris in December 2015, seeks a global action plan to reduce emissions and limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level. The deal needed the ratification of 55 parties representing 55 percent of global emissions for entry into force. Prior to Tuesday's vote, 62 parties had already ratified, representing 51.89 percent of emissions.

Seven EU member states - Hungary, France, Slovakia, Austria, Malta, Portugal and Germany - have already ratified the agreement. The European Union, however, representing some 12 percent of global emissions, will fulfill the second requirement for entry into force of the climate deal, just in time for the COP22 conference, scheduled to be held in Marrakech from November 7 to 18.

"Our vote paves the way to ensure that the agreement meets the necessary threshold ... The entry into force of the Paris agreement less than one year after its signature is a massive achievement, given that it took eight years for the Kyoto protocol. Today's vote also means that the EU remains a climate leader," declared European Parliament President Martin Schulz during the signing of the letter of transfer of consent to be sent by the Parliament to the European Council.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who was present for the signing, thanked Members of European Parliament (MEPs) before the vote, noting that: "The European Union has a long track record of leadership against climate change."

Also present at the signing ceremony were French environment minister and COP21 President Segolene Royale, State Secretary of Slovakia Ivan Korcok, representing the Presidency of the European Council, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Now that the European Parliament has given its consent, the European Council can formally adopt the decision, and file the ratification instruments at the UN's New York headquarters by Friday.

MEPs will also vote on a resolution Thursday to set out priorities for the next round of talks planned for COP22 in Morocco in November. Enditem.