Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli signs the Paris Climate Change Agreement on April 22 as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy (CHINANEWS.COM)

The Paris Climate Change Agreement is one step closer to being put into effect after delegates from 175 countries signed the international deal at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 22.

The landmark event is significant for the international community in three ways: First, the Paris Agreement will help push forward the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), showing the participating countries' commitment to addressing climate change. The treaty details a blueprint for green and low-carbon development, marking a milestone in mankind's history of climate management. In signing the Paris Agreement, countries across the globe are showing a willingness to come together on a critical issue.

Second, the international community has agreed to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." During the negotiations for the Paris Agreement, developed and developing nations had endless disputes on who should have the most responsibilities in tackling climate change. The inclusion of "common but differentiated responsibilities" into the agreement, which was advocated by developing countries, reaffirms the principle's status in the global fight against climate change.

Third, the international community recognizes the Paris Agreement as legally binding, which caused another round of quarrels during the negotiations. As a result, participating countries' commitment to the responsibilities and obligations of reducing emissions and the financing arrangements will be honored and effectively supervised.

China has always been an active proponent of the Paris Agreement. In June 2015, the Chinese Government submitted its "Enhanced Actions on Climate Change: China's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions" document to the UNFCCC Secretariat. It made the commitment of "achieving the peaking of carbon dioxide emissions around 2030 and making best efforts to peak early." Throughout the climate change negotiation process, the Chinese delegation made concerted efforts with other parties to reach an agreement acceptable to all.

With the unsatisfactory results of the Kyoto Protocol—the previous treaty that also committed signatories to reducing greenhouse gases—countries and their citizens are looking at how the Paris Agreement will be implemented.

China has shown its strong will in this regard. Its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) states that China will cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 18 percent per unit of GDP in the next five years. To achieve this target, China will restrict both energy consumption and intensity in addition to initiating pilot programs to reach zero carbon emission. It will also launch a national carbon emissions trading scheme and increase forest carbon sinks, besides establishing a complete system to promote ecological progress, carrying out a stringent accountability system and tightening monitoring efforts.

In a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York City on April 21, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said that tackling climate change is not only China's international responsibility as a large developing economy but is also a requirement for China's sustainable development. He pledged that China will work hard to implement the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, pushing forward eco-friendly growth.

Fully aware of the importance of international cooperation, the Chinese Government has expressed readiness to participate in Paris Agreement follow-up negotiations and promote the implementation of the arrangements mentioned in the agreement.

Moreover, China has already launched new cooperation programs under the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund in order to help other developing nations enhance their fundraising capabilities to deal with climate change. Such efforts demonstrate China's sense of responsibility and burden-sharing spirit as the world's largest developing economy.

In line with a decision made at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, the Paris Agreement will be open for signing until April 21, 2017. For the treaty to enter into force, a minimum of 55 parties to the UNFCCC whose greenhouse gas emissions account for more than 55 percent of the global total need to submit their ratification, acceptance and approval or accession documents. The agreement will become fully effective 30 days after these procedures are complete.

China is expected to complete its related domestic legal procedures before the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in September. It has already proposed initiatives for other G20 members and pledged to work with other nations to push forward universal acceptance of the agreement so it can go into effect as soon as possible.

Climate change is an issue all of mankind face. Ensuring the Paris Agreement comes into effect before 2020, when the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires, is the kind of responsibility that all countries are expected to show in tackling the challenge.

Copyedited by Jordyn Dahl

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