List of parties to the Paris Agreement explained

The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. The Agreement aims to respond to the global climate change threat by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.[1]

History

The language of the agreement was negotiated by representatives of 197 parties at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in Paris and adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015.[2] [3] [4] The Agreement was open for signature by States and regional economic integration organizations that are Parties to the UNFCCC (the Convention) from 22 April 2016 to 21 April 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York.[5] The agreement stated that it would enter into force (and thus become fully effective) only if 55 countries that produce at least 55% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (according to a list produced in 2015)[6] ratify, accept, approve or accede to the agreement.[7] [8] On 1 April 2016, the United States and China, which together represent almost 40% of global emissions, issued a joint statement confirming that both countries would sign the Paris Climate Agreement.[9] [10] 175 Parties (174 states and the European Union) signed the agreement on the first date it was open for signature.[11] [12] On the same day, more than 20 countries issued a statement of their intent to join as soon as possible with a view to joining in 2016. With ratification by the European Union, the Agreement obtained enough parties to enter into effect as of 4 November 2016.

Parties

As of February 2023, 194 states and the EU, representing over 98% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have ratified or acceded to the Agreement, including China and the United States, the countries with the first and second largest CO2 emissions among UNFCCC members.[13] [14] A further three states have signed the Agreement but not ratified it. All 198 UNFCCC members have either signed or acceded to the Paris Agreement.

PartyPercentage of greenhouse
gases for ratification
Date of signatureDate of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accessionDate of entry into force
0.05%
0.02%
0.30%
0.00%
0.17%
0.00%
0.89%
0.02%
1.46%
0.21%
0.13%
0.00%
0.06%
0.27%
0.01%
0.24%
0.32%
0.00%
0.02%
0.00%
0.12%
0.08%
0.02%
2.48%
0.15%
0.06%
0.07%
0.03%
0.45%
1.95%
0.00%
0.01%
0.06%
[15] 0.25%
20.09%[16]
0.41%
0.00%
0.06%
0.01%
0.00%
0.03%
0.73%
0.07%
0.10%
0.02%
0.34%
0.15%
0.00%
0.00%
0.07%
0.00%
0.67%
0.52%
0.03%
0.01%
0.06%
0.05%
0.13%
0.01%
0.17%
1.34%
0.02%
0.05%
0.03%
2.56%
0.09%
0.28%
0.00%
0.04%
0.01%
0.02%
0.01%
0.02%
0.03%
0.15%
0.01%
4.10%
1.49%
0.20%
0.16%
0.20%
1.18%
0.04%
3.79%
0.07%
0.84%
0.06%
0.00%
0.09%
0.03%
0.02%
0.03%
0.07%
0.01%
0.02%
0.00%
0.05%
0.03%
0.08%
0.07%
0.52%
0.00%
0.03%
0.01%
0.00%
0.02%
0.01%
1.70%
0.00%
0.04%
0.00%
0.05%
0.01%
0.16%
0.02%
0.10%
0.01%
0.00%
0.07%
0.53%
0.22%
0.03%
0.04%
0.57%
0.01%
0.23%
0.03%
0.14%
0.06%
0.43%
0.00%
0.03%
0.01%
0.06%
0.22%
0.34%
1.06%
0.18%
0.17%
0.30%
7.53%
0.02%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.80%
0.05%
0.18%
0.00%
0.98%
0.13%
0.12%
0.05%
0.00%
1.46%
1.85%
0.87%
0.05%
0.18%
0.01%
0.15%
0.14%
0.21%
0.11%
0.02%
0.64%
0.02%
0.00%
0.04%
0.11%
1.24%
0.20%
0.00%
0.07%
1.04%
0.53%
1.55%
17.89%
0.05%
0.54%
0.00%
0.52%
0.72%
0.04%
0.18%
Total98.63%195

European Union and its member states

Both the EU and its member states are individually responsible for ratifying the Paris Agreement. A strong preference was reported that the EU and its 28 member states deposit their instruments of ratification at the same time to ensure that neither the EU nor its member states engage themselves to fulfilling obligations that strictly belong to the other,[17] and there were fears that disagreement over each individual member state's share of the EU-wide reduction target, as well as Britain's vote to leave the EU might delay the Paris pact.[18] However, the European Parliament approved ratification of the Paris Agreement on 4 October 2016,[19] and the EU deposited its instruments of ratification on 5 October 2016, along with several individual EU member states.

Sub-national territories

Some sub-national territories of parties are subject to a territorial exclusion from their sovereign state that is party to the Agreement. The party can then extend the ratification of the Agreement to said territory. While the UK did not make any declaration upon ratification, it did so in National Communications, last in its 8th NC in 2022.[20] The militarily used British Indian Ocean Territory is not mentioned as being excluded.

Party Territory Date of Exclusion Date of Approval Date of entry into force
2016-11-01[21] 2024-07-02 [22] N/A
2022-04-16[23] 2016-04-22[24]
(signed, not ratified)
N/A
2022-04-16[25] N/A N/A
2022-04-16[26] N/A N/A
2022-04-16[27] N/A N/A
2016-10-04[28] 2017-11-13[29] N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A 2023-03-22[30] [31] N/A
N/A 2022-10-03[32] N/A
N/A 2022-04-29[33] N/A
N/A 2023-12-06[34] N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A

Withdrawal from Agreement

See also: United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.

Article 28 of the agreement enables parties to withdraw from the agreement after sending a withdrawal notification to the depositary, but notice can be given no earlier than three years after the agreement goes into force for the country. Withdrawal is effective one year after the depositary is notified. Alternatively, the Agreement stipulates that withdrawal from the UNFCCC, under which the Paris Agreement was adopted, would also withdraw the state from the Paris Agreement. The conditions for withdrawal from the UNFCCC are the same as for the Paris Agreement. In the agreement no provisions for non compliance are stated.

On 1 June 2017, then-US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement.[35] In accordance with Article 28, as the agreement entered into force in the United States on 4 November 2016, the earliest possible effective withdrawal date for the United States was 4 November 2020. If it had chosen to withdraw by way of withdrawing from the UNFCCC, notice could be given immediately (the UNFCCC entered into force for the US in 1994), and be effective one year later. On August 4, 2017, the Trump administration delivered an official notice to the United Nations that the US intended to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is legally eligible to do so.[36] The formal notice of withdrawal could not be submitted until the agreement had been in force for 3 years for the US, in 2019.[37] [38]

According to a memo obtained by HuffPost believed to be written by US State Department legal office, any "attempts to withdraw from the Paris Agreement outside of the above-described withdrawal provisions would be inconsistent with international law and would not be accepted internationally."[39] [40]

On 4 November 2019, the United States notified the depositary of its withdrawal from the agreement, to be effective exactly one year from that date.[41] In one of his first executive actions, President Joe Biden signed an order that would have the United States rejoin the agreement.[42] [43] Joe Biden was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron with a "Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!".[44]

Signatories

A further three states have signed but not ratified the Paris Agreement.

SignatoryPercentage of greenhouse
gases for ratification
Date of signature
1.30%
0.07%
Total1.38%3

Notes and references

References

Notes and References

  1. http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php
  2. Book: Jepsen . etal . Henrik . Negotiating the Paris Agreement: The Insider Stories . Cambridge University Press . 2021 . 9781108886246.
  3. News: Final draft of climate deal formally accepted in Paris . Sutter . John D. . Berlinger . Joshua . 12 December 2015 . CNN . Cable News Network, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. . 12 December 2015.
  4. Web site: Paris climate talks: France releases 'ambitious, balanced' draft agreement at COP21. ABC Australia. 12 December 2015.
  5. https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09.pdf Article 20(1)
  6. Web site: Information provided in accordance with paragraph 104 of decision 1 CP21 related to entry into force of the Paris Agreement (Article 21). UNFCCC. 23 April 2016.
  7. Article 21(1)
  8. Web site: Historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change - 195 Nations Set Path to Keep Temperature Rise Well Below 2 Degrees Celsius . . 12 December 2015 . UN Climate Change Newsroom . United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change . 14 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117141004/http://newsroom.unfccc.int/unfccc-newsroom/finale-cop21/ . 17 January 2016 . dead .
  9. Web site: McGrath . Matt . Paris Climate Treaty: 'Significant step' as US and China agree to sign . Bbc.com . 31 March 2016 . 23 April 2016.
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/world/asia/obama-and-president-xi-of-china-vow-to-sign-paris-climate-accord-promptly.html Obama and President Xi of China Vow to Sign Paris Climate Agreement Promptly
  11. Web site: 'Today is an historic day,' says Ban, as 175 countries sign Paris climate accord. United Nations. 22 April 2016.
  12. Web site: PARIS AGREEMENT Signature Ceremony. UNFCCC. 22 April 2016. 14 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170516205241/http://newsroom.unfccc.int/media/632121/list-of-representatives-to-high-level-signature-ceremony.pdf. 16 May 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Paris Agreement . United Nations Treaty Collection . 8 July 2016.
  14. Web site: India Ratifies Landmark Paris Climate Deal, Says, 'Kept Our Promise'. 2 October 2016.
  15. Web site: Chile firmará acuerdo climático en septiembre y será uno de los 57 países que lo ratificarían este año.
  16. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37265541 "Paris climate deal: US and China formally join pact"
  17. Web site: Explainer: When will the European Union ratify the Paris Agreement?. Yeo. Sophie. 23 June 2016. 3 September 2016.
  18. Paris climate deal to take effect as EU ratifies accord. Nature. 4 October 2016. 10.1038/nature.2016.20735. 5 October 2016. Schiermeier. Quirin. 158043198.
  19. Web site: Paris Agreement to enter into force as EU agrees ratification. European Commission. 4 October 2016. 5 October 2016.
  20. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/UKs%208th%20National%20Communication%20and%205th%20BR.pdf unfccc.int – UK's 8th National Communication.
  21. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#1 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 1
  22. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#1 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 1
  23. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#EndDec treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Declarations
  24. https://media.un.org/photo/en/asset/oun7/oun7166117 media.un.org – Prime Minister of Aruba Signs Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 2016-04-22
  25. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#EndDec treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Declarations
  26. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#EndDec treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Declarations
  27. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#EndDec treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Declarations
  28. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 3
  29. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#3 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 3
  30. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#5 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 5
  31. https://www.gov.im/news/2023/mar/27/climate-change-paris-agreement-extended-to-isle-of-man/ gov.im – Climate change: Paris Agreement extended to Isle of Man, 2023-03-27
  32. https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/press-releases/uk-extends-international-treaties-on-the-environment-to-gibraltar-7292022-8312 UK extends international treaties on the Environment to Gibraltar - 729/2022
  33. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#6 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 6
  34. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-d&chapter=27&clang=_en#4 treaties.un.org – Status of Partis Agreement, Endnote 4
  35. News: Trump quits the Paris climate accord, calling it a 'bad deal' for the U.S.. Halper. Evan. 1 June 2017. Los Angeles Times. 1 June 2017. en-US. 0458-3035.
  36. Web site: Reference: C.N.464.2017.TREATIES-XXVII.7.d (Depositary Notification). 2017-08-08. 2017-08-14. United Nations.
  37. News: Trump administration delivers notice US intends to withdraw from Paris climate deal. POLITICO. 2017-08-04.
  38. News: WH: US staying out of climate accord. Producer. Kevin Liptak, CNN White House. CNN. 2017-09-17.
  39. News: White House Leaning Toward Exiting Paris Agreement By Next Week, Sources Say. Alexander. Kaufman. Kate. Sheppard. HuffPost. 2 May 2017. 22 July 2017.
  40. Web site: Paris Agreement: Overview of Legal Issues. 22 July 2017.
  41. Web site: PARIS AGREEMENT - PARIS, 12 DECEMBER 2015 -UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: WITHDRAWAL. 2019-04-04. 2019-04-09. United Nations.
  42. Web site: President Joe Biden rejoins the Paris climate accord in first move to tackle global warming. Emma. Newburger. CNBC. 20 January 2021.
  43. Web site: Paris Climate Agreement. Whitehouse. The. White House. 20 January 2021.
  44. Web site: Choi. Joseph. 2021-01-20. Macron to Biden and Harris: 'Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!'. 2021-02-21. TheHill. en.