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Immediate action needed as Paris Agreement enters into force: WMO

Xinhua, November 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on Friday called upon countries to take urgent steps in view of realizing the targets outlined in the landmark Paris Agreement reached last year as soon as possible.

"The Paris Agreement enters into force today, promising to energize global action against climate change," WMO said in a statement.

"Our planet need action. Now. The international support which fast-tracked the entry-into-force of the Paris Agreement is unprecedented. The challenge now lies in its implementation," it added.

According to recent WMO reports, global greenhouse gas concentrations have reached new records, with carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reaching the threshold of 400 parts per million in 2015.

"This is not just a symbolic figure. It means that time is running out in the quest to contain and manage climate change," WMO explained.

"Our climate is now charged with extra energy and this plays out into extreme events. We are witnessing weather on steroids," it added.

The covenant's main objective is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels while continuing efforts which limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To date, 97 nations of the 197 signatory parties to the convention have ratified the agreement that outlines post-2020 global climate governance. Endit