The environment and climate ministers at their extraordinary meeting held on 30 September 2016 endorsed the Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Paris Agreement. With this decision the EU will enable the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement already this year. After its decision, the Council asked the European Parliament for its consent. Once the European Parliament gives its green light, the decision on conclusion will be formally adopted by the Council. The EU will then be able to ratify the agreement. Hungary was the first Member State to conclude its national ratification process in May 2016. Since then France, Austria, Malta, Slovakia and Germany have also finalized its national ratification. The EU and those Member States who concluded the ratification will submit their ratification instrument to the UN Secretariat probably by 7 October. With this step the EU and the Member States can participate in the decision making at the first meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA). The agreement will enter into force 30 days after the ratification by at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So far 61 countries have ratified, accounting for 47.79% of global emissions.
At the Council ministers adopted the EU’s position for the Marrakesh climate change conference (COP22), to be held between 7-18 November 2016, which will focus on action and implementation.
The Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Paris Agreement is available here.
