At a time when many countries around the world are still debating over the Paris Agreement, Nepalese parliament has ratified the agreement showing its commitments to the global agenda.

Following the ratification of the Agreement by Nepal’s Legislature Parliament unanimously, Nepal government has submitted the ratification notice to the United Nations.

On 5 October 2016, the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved. The Paris Agreement will enter into force on 4 November 2016. The first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) will take place in Marrakech in conjunction with COP 22 and CMP 12.

The Paris Agreement will enter into force thirty days after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention, accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of the total global greenhouse gas emissions, have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.

The Paris Agreement was adopted on 12 December 2015 at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris from 30 November to 13 December 2015. In accordance with its article 20, the Agreement shall be open for signature at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 22 April 2016 until 21 April 2017 by States and regional economic integration organizations that are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

According to the press release issued by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to United Nations, the government has submitted the deposition of the Instrument of Ratification of the Paris Agreement to the United Nations.

Following the decision of the Legislature-Parliament of Nepal on 04 October 2016, the instrument of ratification was transmitted to the Permanent Mission by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier together with the registration of Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn by the Ministry of Population and Environment.

“It may be noted that the deposition of the instruments of ratification by Nepal and other countries in the course of today fulfilled the requirement (of deposition of instruments of ratification by at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions) necessary for the Paris Agreement to come into force. The Agreement is now set to be in force on the thirtieth day, on 04 November 2016. As of today, the Agreement has been ratified by 72 States accounting for 56.75 per cent of the global GHG emissions,” said a press release on the day.

Nepal had reiterated its commitment to contributing to the global collaboration, and had also shared its intention to submit the instrument of ratification at the earliest during the Signature Ceremony of the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016 in New York.

Nepal highlights that the Paris Agreement is a living instrument meant for serious implementation, in tandem with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and hopes that its sincere implementation would help us adapt and mitigate the recurring problems such as landslides, floods, melting of glaciers, erratic and extreme weather patterns, and loss of biodiversity directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.

Nepal believes that the collective strength of global efforts, understanding, cooperation, partnership and support should run foremost in combating the challenges posed by Climate Change.

According to a press release issued by Nepali’s Permanent Mission to United Nations, in view of the fact that Climate Change vulnerability of Nepal as LDC, LLDC and mountainous country is very high and our pathway for sustainable development is both difficult and costly, Nepal maintains that an easy, transparent and direct access to climate finance and technology should be ensured for the countries like Nepal, in addition to the development cooperation and support, as provisioned in the Paris Agreement and other instruments.

“Ratifying the Paris Agreement, Nepal has shown our sincere commitments towards Paris Agreement and impacts of the climate change,” said Dr. Ram Prasad Lamsal, joint secretary of Ministry of Population and Environment and focal point of UNFCCC Nepal.