The landmark climate agreement signed in Paris will probably hit target milestones two years earlier than the planned date, as countries get ready to take on the challenge as quickly as possible, the United Nations said.
Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UFCCC), spoke at a lecture in London about the global climate deal's impact in the next several years.
The Paris climate deal is slated to take effect in 2020 after at least 55 countries out of 196, which represent 55 percent of the world's total carbon emissions, have both officially signed and ratified it.
"I think we will have a Paris agreement in effect in 2018," said Figueres, adding that getting the climate deal signed and ratified is only a prelude to a far more complex work in the coming years.
Figueres said switching the world's energy systems to clean power and building up low carbon technologies are complicated goals that could take massive and rapid investment on a scale not seen since the post-World War II rebuilding.
Still, Figueres said doing so is essential to catch up to the effects of climate change.
"If you ask me, the Paris agreement is 10 years too late," said Figueres.
If countries do not move fast enough to achieve zero carbon emissions or at least produce no more greenhouse gases than can be taken in by trees and the ocean, Figueres said the poorest of the poor will pay the highest price.
More carbon is equivalent to more poverty, she said. That being said, having net zero emissions is one way to eradicate poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
On Earth Day, the United States and China – the two biggest producers of greenhouse gas in the world – will sign the climate deal, sparking hopes that it will "enter into force" immediately this year. This means that key provisions in the agreement would become binding as early as possible.
In a joint statement, both countries emphasized their pledge to the landmark agreement.
"[They will] use public resources to finance and encourage the transition toward low carbon technologies as a priority," the statement said.
Aside from China and the U.S., 128 more nations are expected to sign the deal in New York on April 22. Fiji has become the first country to ratify the climate agreement.
Photo : UN Climate Change | Flickr
