Paris Agreement turns a new page in human endeavour: officials

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and President of COP22 Salaheddine Mezouar said Paris agreement represents a turning point in the history of common human endeavour, as it went into force on Friday.

"The agreement is undoubtedly a turning point in the history of common human endeavor, capturing the combined political, economic and social will of governments, cities, regions, citizens, business and investors to overcome the existential threat of unchecked climate change," Espinosa and Mezouar said in a joint message on the occasion of the entry into force of this agreement on Friday.

"Paris delivered a gift of hope for every man, woman and child on the planet," the message noted, adding that "today's celebration can also rest on the assurance that the policies, technology and finance to achieve these goals not only exist, but are being deployed as never before."

It said that Paris Agreement swept into force on an unprecedented wave of action and pledges to build a global renewable energy industry.

Regarding the upcoming COP22 which will take place from November 7-18, 2016 in Marrakech, the two officials expected it to accelerate work on the rulebook and to see a definable pathway for developed countries to materialize the flow of 100 billion U.S. dollars per year by 2020 in support of climate action by developing ones.

The foundations of the Paris Agreement are solid and other key features of humanity's new home are starting to rise, they said, stressing that "we cannot and we must not rest until the roof is in place. This November in Marrakesh we will make sure it will be in place, sooner rather than later." Endit