UN official commends U.S., China on Paris Climate Agreement

Erik Solheim, Head UN Environment Programme.

UN Environment Programme Head Erik Solheim says the agreement of China and the United States (U.S.) to ratify Paris Climate Agreement is crucial to moving the agreement forward.

Reacting to the announcement in a statement on Saturday, Solheim said: “This announcement is hugely important. The leadership of China and the U.S. is crucial to taking the Paris Climate Agreement forward.

“They bring significant additional momentum to keeping global warming less than two-degree-Celsius.

“By putting the well-being of our planet at the top of the agenda, the two largest economies in the world are also showing that our economic future is low-carbon and green.

“The fight against climate change remains difficult and urgent, but having heavy-hitters such as China and U.S. on your side is extremely heartening.”

China’s state media announced early Saturday that its National People’s Congress had approved the ratification of the agreement at the closing of a week-long meeting.

A report by the state-run Xinhua news agency highlighted China’s commitment to confront global warming and play a bigger role in global climate change governance.

Brian Deese, a senior advisor to President Barack Obama, said the announcement by Beijing and Washington set a very clear path to help the Paris Climate Agreement to come into effect this year.

In December last year, negotiators from 179 countries and the European Union came out with final details of the Paris Climate Agreement, however, only 23 countries have ratified the accord.

To go into effect, at least 55 countries, or those accounting for 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, need to ratify the agreement.

The ratification by two of the world’s biggest emitters is a big step in the right direction as China accounts for 25 percent of the world’s emissions and the U.S., 15 percent.

The Paris Climate Agreement sets post-2020 goals for countries that aim to cap global warming below two-degree-Celsius and calls on signatories to set goals for checking their carbon emissions.

Once the deal has been ratified, countries have to wait a minimum of three years to exit.

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg

FG berates US congressman over comment

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality the published letter from US Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the US to withhold security assistance to Nigeria on the strength of some imaginary infraction by the Buhari Administration. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Congressman Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he did not take the pains to get first hand information from the US Embassy in Nigeria or any other credible source before engaging in what is nothing but a ‘propaganda of his own imagination’. The Minister said by asking the US to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues. ”Insecurity anywhere i

Aubameyang leads Gabon to Nations Cup

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali. Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England. But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad. Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna. Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three do

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog