Over 165 countries plan to sign the Paris climate change agreement on Friday in New York, and the United Nations is hoping the deal can take effect in 30 days.
“The large number of countries will set a record for the most countries to sign an international agreement on one day, previously set in 1982, when 119 countries signed the Law of the Sea Convention,” the U.N. said.
The signing ceremony will be hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at U.N. headquarters, who will be joined by Oscar award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, along with French President Francois Hollande and other country representatives who will speak during the event.
Secretary of State John Kerry will be there to sign the deal, but will not speak at the ceremony.
“All of the world’s largest economies, and the largest greenhouse gas emitters, have indicated that they will sign the agreement on Friday,” the U.N. said in a statement. “The signing is the first step toward ensuring that the agreement enters into force as soon as possible. After signing, countries must take the further national (or domestic) step of accepting or ratifying the agreement.”
The signing only indicates a countries intent to “join” the Paris deal, or ratify it. Countries will have one year to join the agreement, which means they agree to take on all the obligations of meeting strict greenhouse gas emission cuts, and begin implementing domestic programs to do so.
The deal can be ratified, or “entered into force,” within 30 days after at least 55 nations that are a party to U.N. agreement sign it, “accounting for at least 55 per cent of global emissions, ratify the agreement,” the U.N. said.
It notes that 13 countries, mostly small island nations, plan to formally join the accord immediately after signing the agreement on Friday.
