Landmark Paris climate accord signed

About 170 countries signed a legally binding and universal agreement on climate on Friday at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This is the first notable step into putting the Paris Agreement on climate change into place. This agreement will combat climate change and enable a sustainable future.

The aim of the agreement is to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

This is the largest number of countries ever to sign an international agreement in one day.

“I am touched to see so much support and political momentum to move the Agreement forward. I thank all the world leaders who have come here to show their support,” “said” UN secretary General Ban Ki-moon during a joint press conference with France President Francois Hollande.

China and the United States, both big climate polluters signed the agreement.

“The window for keeping global temperature rise well below two degrees Celsius, let alone 1.5 degress, is rapidly closing. The era of consumption without consequences is over. We must intensify efforts to decarbonize our economies. And we must support developing countries in making this transition,” Ban Ki-moon added

The Paris Agreement was adopted by all parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December during COP 21 in Paris.

Record support for advancing #ParisAgreement entry into force – 175 countries signed today https://t.co/YjTPwHar5k pic.twitter.com/U5Ct27NTHS

— UN Climate Action (@UNFCCC) April 22, 2016

The agreement will come into force after 55 countries that account for more than half of global emissions ratify the instruments.