China, US commit to signing Paris climate deal


China and the United States have been commended by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for committing to sign a global agreement to combat climate change.

A hundred and ninety-five countries agreed to keep global temperatures below two degrees Celsius during a historic meeting in Paris last December.

The UN climate deal will be open for signature on Earth Day observed 22 April.

China and the United States have released a joint Presidential Statement pledging to sign last year's climate deal during a special ceremony at the UN in New York in April.

The two countries are the world's largest emitters, accounting for 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, according to media reports.

Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the news and seized the occasion to urge other countries to follow suit so that the Paris deal can enter into force "as early as possible".

The agreement will take effect when 55 countries that account for at least 55 per cent of global emissions sign and join.


SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.