UK ratifies the Paris Agreement
Against the backdrop of international climate negotiations in Marrakesh, the Paris Agreement has been ratified by the UK.
Nick Hurd speaking at COP22
The UK government played a major role when the world came together last year in Paris to reach the ambitious deal to reduce global CO2 emissions. Less than a year later, the landmark Agreement has entered into force and has been ratified by the UK as a sign of the continued commitment to climate action across the world.
Welcoming the completion of the domestic Parliamentary process that facilitated ratification, Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said:
The Paris Agreement sends a clear signal that cutting emissions globally will not only help countries respond to the impact of climate change, but it is also compatible with economic growth.
As we ratify this landmark agreement, we look ahead to continuing our leadership on climate action and ensuring that British business continues to play a key role in this new global low carbon economy. It will benefit the UK while we implement our industrial strategy to deliver the economy that works for all.
Nick Hurd MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry, who has been negotiating for the UK and promoting British business at the 22nd UN climate change Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakesh said:
The UK is ratifying the historic Paris Agreement so that we can help to accelerate global action on climate change and deliver on our commitments to create a safer, more prosperous future for us all.
COP22 in Marrakesh is an important milestone which marks the shift from aspiration to implementation. We are going to use this positive momentum to grow the UK low-carbon sector, which is already worth over £46 billion, as we continue to provide secure, affordable and clean energy to our families and businesses.
The Paris Agreement provides a framework for governments as well as business and investors to keep global warming well below 2°C, pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Paris negotiations have set us on an irreversible route towards low-carbon growth. The Marrakesh talks, which conclude today, focused on bringing the Paris Agreement into reality. They provided the opportunity for countries to develop detailed plans of action as the world aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the second half of the century.
During COP22 in Marrakesh, the government has supported several key initiatives that will enable the Agreement to be implemented more effectively. These include improving national carbon reduction strategies, advancing innovation to drive forward clean energy on a global scale, increasing transparency of actions and scaling up ambitious climate finance from a range of public and private sources to avoid the most devastating effects of global warming.
The UK played a significant role in driving forward COP22 negotiations and our announcement of ratification of the Paris Agreement was welcomed. The key focus of the final stage of negotiation at COP22 has been on turning the Paris Agreement into action and delivery. COP22 made progress on the Paris rulebook and agreed to accelerate further work, setting a clear deadline of 2018 for its finalisation.