Posted on September, 30 2016

Today EU Environment Ministers agreed to fast EU ratification, meaning that the EU will deposit its instruments of ratification with the UNFCCC together with those Member States that have already ratified (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovak Republic.

This means that once the EU deposits its instruments of ratification, it will have brought the world ever closer to the 55/55 threshold for entry into force. 

The EU accounts for 12.08% of the world's emissions, so by ratifying is showing its commitment to climate action, but now it must back up this action with implementation and by aligning EU policies with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. 

WWF statement:

Imke Lübbeke, Head of Climate and Energy at WWF European Policy Office: “Without the solid foundations and strong backing of ambitious policy, the EU’s fast ratification of the Paris Agreement is like a house made of straw - attractive to look at but lacking sufficient strength and substance. The EU now has to add the bricks of ambition and the cement of action to its climate and energy policies.The EU must seize concrete opportunities to align its ambition with the Paris climate targets, such as the upcoming proposals on energy efficiency and renewables, and the reform of the EU ETS."

Geneviève Pons, Director of the WWF European Policy Office: “In addition, the EU must use international climate moments like the upcoming COP22 summit to kick-start longer term planning on climate action. Long-term strategies are key to putting in place the right measures to win the fight against climate change.”

Without the solid base and ambitious policy, the EU’s fast ratification of the #ParisAgreement is like a house made of straw. pic.twitter.com/QQwuIA3Hkg

— WWF EU (@WWFEU) 30 September 2016