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Earth Day -- April 22nd

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Our Home Planet

'Earth Day Is Everyday and Everyday Is Earth Day'

Earth Day / Countries Signing Climate Action Plans

Paris Agreement Signatures Today at the United Nations

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Signing the Climate Summit Agreements on Earth Day

175 Nations Make History on Earth Day

Climate Plans Enforcement - Resources

Toward a Global Renewable Energy Transition

Shifting from Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

195 countries signed onto the new international climate agreement at COP21 in Paris

Does that mean the Agreement is now in effect?

No, countries still need to take steps so that it takes effect. What occurred on December 12 at COP21 was the “adoption” of the Paris Agreement by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Adoption is the formal act that establishes the form and content of an agreement.

Methods to Enforce National Climate Pledges and Promises

In addition to adopting the Paris Agreement, the Parties made a number of key decisions about what’s necessary for the Agreement to enter into force. They also agreed on a process for how countries will finalize their current national climate plans and shift from Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Countries must now actually join the Paris Agreement and become Parties to it. To do this, each country must now sign and indicate their consent to be bound by the Agreement.

After at least 55 Parties to the UNFCCC representing at least 55 percent of total global greenhouse gases sign on and indicate their consent to be bound will the Agreement “enter into force,” meaning it will come into effect and be legally binding.

After entry into force, the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement will be held. This will be an important time to adopt many of the more detailed rules and procedures necessary to make the Agreement effective.

What’s the timeline for countries to ratify the Agreement?

On April 22, 2016, all Heads of State can sign the Agreement at a high-level signing ceremony at the United Nations in New York.

The Agreement will then be open for signature for one year, until April 21, 2017.

Most countries will sign the Agreement “subject to ratification, acceptance and approval,” making their signature conditional on obtaining the required domestic approval for joining the Agreement. In some cases, they will also enact any national legislation necessary to implement the Agreement. For example, in Australia, the only requirement is formal notification and introduction of the Agreement in Parliament, whereas in Mexico, the consent of the Senate is also required. In the United States, many international agreements are joined as “executive agreements” based on presidential authority.