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                      World Leaders to Sign Climate Accord

   by Margaret Besheer

   On Friday, world leaders will take historic action at the [1]United
   Nations to try to slow the effects of climate change and fix some of
   its damage.

   More than 60 presidents and prime ministers, as well as dozens of other
   top officials from more than 130 countries will gather in New York to
   sign the climate change deal reached in Paris in December.

   The agreement works to limit global temperature rise to well below 2
   degrees Celsius. It also lays out a road map for reducing greenhouse
   gas emissions and mitigating the effects of a warming planet.

   While leaders hammered out the details in Paris, in New York Friday
   they will sign and signal their readiness to start implementing the
   agreement.

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed the Paris accord as a
   "turning point" in the world's response to climate change.

   "For the first time, every country in the world pledged to curb their
   emissions, strengthen resilience and join in common cause for the
   common good," he said recently. "In Paris, governments demonstrated
   that by acting together, they can achieve something none could achieve
   alone."

   A new start

   The agreement will enter into force 30 days after 55 countries either
   ratify or deposit their instruments of ratification with the U.N.
   chief. Those 55 countries must also account for at least 55 percent of
   total global greenhouse gas emissions.

   The target date is 2020, but if enough countries ratify, officials say
   the agreement could enter into force much sooner -- this year or early
   2017.

   China and the United States -- which together account for about 40
   percent of the world's emissions -- will be represented at the signing
   ceremony. They have been using their political influence to urge an
   early implementation of the accord.

   "So that's a signal - significant signal, really -- of continued
   commitment and momentum coming from the two largest emitters, which
   together account for virtually 40 percent of global emissions," a
   senior U.S. State Department official said.

   Most vulnerable

   About 10 countries have said they plan to sign and deposit their
   instrument of ratifications on Friday. Those countries are mainly small
   island states, which are most threatened by warming oceans and rising
   sea levels.

   In February, Fiji was hit by Cyclone Winston -- the strongest cyclone
   ever to hit the South Pacific. The island-nation sustained a billion
   dollars in damage and lost 44 people to the natural disaster.

   "The frequency of such weather events like Winston is increasing,"
   Prime Minister Josaia Bainimarama told reporters. "We all have to be
   fearful about what this means -- not just for ourselves, but for future
   generations."

   Fiji will be among the first nations to sign and launch ratification of
   the climate deal on Friday.

   Star power

   The signing ceremony -- which is taking place on Earth Day -- will be
   accompanied by a lot of speeches and even some Hollywood star power.
   Actor and climate change activist Leonardo DiCaprio is expected to
   speak. The Academy Award-winning actor appealed to leaders to do more
   to protect the planet in his Best Actor acceptance speech at February's
   Oscar's ceremony.

   "Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most
   urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work
   collectively together and stop procrastinating," he warned.

   Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will also attend Friday, and will
   address a luncheon co-hosted by the U.N. Secretary-General and French
   President François Hollande.

   Then the hard work begins. Countries must ratify and then put into
   practice the commitments they have made.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/world-leaders-to-sign-climate-accord/
   3295234.html

References

   1. http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climatechange/
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/world-leaders-to-sign-climate-accord/3295234.html