London, 3 September - IETA congratulates the US and China on their ratification of the Paris Agreement. The formal approval by the world’s two biggest-emitting nations is a major step towards the treaty’s entry into force before the end of 2016.

"It is impressive that President Xi and President Obama followed through so promptly with ratification and acceptance,” Dirk Forrister, CEO of IETA, said. “This should encourage other nations to step up their efforts to ratify so that the agreement will come to life quickly, spurring more climate action.”

The ratification by China and the US, which together represent around 40% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, comes much sooner than expected and means that negotiations on implementing the Paris Agreement’s rules, including provisions on market cooperation, should get off to a good start in Marrakech in November.

“The fact that the two countries have followed through so swiftly on their promise to ratify shows strong climate leadership during a time of political uncertainty in many parts of the world,” said Jeff Swartz, director of international policy at IETA.

“Ratification by the US and China will bolster momentum for domestic climate policies in the US, as well as China’s efforts to put in place a national ETS,” Swartz said. “These will be instrumental for each country to meet its respective target under the Paris Agreement.”

The formal adoption by the two nations won’t immediately bring the agreement into force - it requires the ratification of 55 countries representing 55% of the world’s emissions. Before today only 24 countries (representing 1.08% of global greenhouse gases) had deposited their instrument of ratification with the United Nations.