Paris climate agreement definitely enters into force
The time has come: after exceeding the agreed threshold of 55 countries with at least 55% of total CO2 emissions that have ratified climate agreements, it will definitely enter into force as of November 4, 2016.
A historic moment for climate protection: The Paris Climate Agreement will definitely enter into force on November 5, 2016.
This, after the EU and ten countries ratified the agreement on October 5. This means that the defined threshold of 55 countries emitting a total of 55% of emissions has now been exceeded; 30 days later, the agreement will officially enter into force. However, it will not become binding until 2020.
The newly added countries are Germany, Austria, Canada, France, Hungary, Bolivia, Malta, Nepal, Portugal and Slovakia. In total, there are now 74 countries, including the two biggest climate sinners, the USA and China.
As a result, countries are now committed to halting the rise in global temperatures.
Switzerland: ratification in summer 2017 at the earliest
The Swiss Federal Council has approved the agreement and signed it on April 22, 2016. It is now up to parliament to ratify it - but this is not expected to be until the 2017 summer session.
As a result, Switzerland will likely not be able to participate in the implementation negotiations that will take place at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Marrakech this November.
