UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has lauded a joint statement on climate change made by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama announcing their support for early entry into force of the Paris Agreement, and encouraged all countries to accelerate their domestic processes to join or ratify it.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the domestic steps being undertaken by both countries to join the Paris Agreement as soon as possible, including in 2016, and their collaborative efforts to address climate change,” a statement issued by the secretary-general’s spokesperson said.

The Paris Agreement was adopted by all 196 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the UN climate change conference in Paris last December, where all countries agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

On 22 April, 175 countries signed the Agreement, which according to the UN was by far the largest number of countries ever to sign an international agreement in one single day. For it to enter into force, 55 countries accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse emissions need to implement the accord at the national level. As of today, 177 Parties have signed, and 17 have ratified it.

“[The UN chief] is further encouraged by the resolve of India and the United States to pursue low greenhouse gas emission development strategies and successful outcomes this year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Montreal Protocol, the International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and the G20,” the statement added, noting that the joint announcement by India and the United States also follows on the heels of the G7 Ise-Shima Leaders’ Declaration.