Press Release: Paris Agreement signing ceremony in New York – the EU calls for swift ratification

The European Union signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on Friday 22 April 2016 in New York.

The signing ceremony, convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, followed the adoption of the world's first universal climate change agreement by 195 countries in Paris on 12 December 2015. The European Union was the first major economy to table its commitment in the run up to the Paris climate conference COP21 and looked forward to having the Agreement ratified and entering into force swiftly.

The Paris Agreement will be open for signature at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 22 April 2016 to 21 April 2017.

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Council of the European Union: Press Release, 22.04.16: Climate change: EU signs the Paris Agreement http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/04/22-paris-agreement-global-climate-action/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Paris Agreement adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-signing-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-of-the-paris-agreement-adopted-under-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change/

Politico, 21.04.16: EU risks being sidelined in Paris climate pact http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-risks-being-left-out-in-the-cold-in-global-warming-pact-environment-climate-change-cop-21-paris-europe/

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The Conversation, 22.04.16: Paris climate deal: leaders signed up to a marathon without first getting fit https://theconversation.com/paris-climate-deal-leaders-signed-up-to-a-marathon-without-first-getting-fit-58233

ESO: Paris Climate Change Conference, November-December 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-climate-change-conference-november-december-2015/

BBC News, 22.04.16: World leaders prepare to sign Paris climate treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36098310

EurActiv, 21.04.16: [Opinion] Signing the Paris climate agreement: Can the EU still be a leader? https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/opinion/signing-the-paris-climate-agreement-can-the-eu-still-be-a-leader/

Washington Post, 21.04.16: How Earth itself has dramatically upped the stakes for the Paris climate accord Signing the Paris climate agreement: Can the EU still be a leader?

BBC News, 22.04.16: First big test for Paris climate deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36088904

The New York Times, 21.04.16: Leaders Roll Up Sleeves on Climate, but Experts Say Plans Don’t Pack a Wallop http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/science/united-nations-paris-climate-change-document.html

The Guardian, 22.04.16: Paris climate deal set to be signed by record number of states http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/22/paris-climate-deal-set-signed-record-number-states-un

The Guardian, 19.04.16: Justin Trudeau to lobby for quick approval of Paris climate deal http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/19/justin-trudeau-to-lobby-for-quick-approval-of-paris-climate-deal

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/16/1533, 22.04.16: EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete at the UN Signature Ceremony for the Paris Agreement New York http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-16-1533_en.htm

EurActiv, 22.04.16: The EU’s ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ on climate action http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/the-eus-prisoners-dilemma-on-climate-action/

EurActiv, 25.04.16: Paris climate deal: Countries with about half of global emissions to join this year http://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/paris-climate-deal-countries-with-about-half-of-global-emissions-to-join-this-year/

EurActiv, 27.05.16: UN climate talks flesh out landmark Paris pact http://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/un-climate-talks-flesh-out-landmark-paris-pact/

EurActiv, 03.06.16: EU states will be asked to ratify climate deal in June http://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/eu-states-will-be-asked-to-ratify-climate-deal-in-june/

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