100 parties join Paris Agreement: UN official

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, announced on Sunday that 100 parties formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The announcement was made during a press conference before the official kick-off of the UNFCCC's 22nd Conference of Parties (COP22) in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on November 7, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015 at the COP21 in Paris, was ratified in October by 96 countries and the European Union, and entered into force on November 4.

Espinosa said that the 100 parties who joined demonstrate "real climate action".

She also announced that the 1st meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) would take place at COP22 on November 15.

Salaheddine Mezouar, COP22 President, stressed the importance of reaching tangible commitments from states and civil society during the 11-day climate change conference particularly regarding climate finance and adaptation.

"We're changing the paradigm towards a low-carbon global economy that needs key climate finance flows to the most vulnerable countries," said Mezouar.

This shows serious commitment from all levels of society to continue the critical momentum towards a low-carbon economy and the fight against climate change, he added.

Over 50,000 people are expected to attend COP22 in Morocco, including around 20,000 delegates, some 30,000 civil society members, over 40 heads of state and 30 heads of government.

--IANS

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