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Officials of 160 Countries to Converge at UN to Sign Climate Deal

Representatives of 160 countries are expected to be at the United Nations in New York on Friday to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Officials of 160 Countries to Converge at UN to Sign Climate Deal

While the event will be high on symbolism -- this will be the first time so many countries have signed an international agreement on the first day of the signing period -- it also suggests the historic agreement will implemented across the globe well before the 2020 deadline.

U.N. officials said they hope countries to use the signing to announce timelines for implementing the agreement.

Last month, the United States and China announced they intend to formally join the agreement this year.

The agreement goes "live" as soon as representatives of 55 countries put their pens to the agreement document.

The agreement, a major breakthrough in United Nation's climate efforts, was negotiated in Paris in December. Under the deal, signatories will set their own targets for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. While the targets are not legally binding participating nations must update them every five years.

The scientific community has long said widespread agreement on such a compact is necessary is the world's governments are going to have any chance to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

Last year was the hottest on record, The New York Times reported.

And many scientists and organizations remain pessimistic.

Climate Interactive, a research group, has said even with the Paris agreement, temperatures will likely continue to rise another 3.5 degrees Celsius in 2100.

Meanwhile, Climate Action Tracker, an independent European organization, has said that the planet would see warming of about 2.7 degrees Celsius -- if all the governments now supporting the Paris agreement abide by their pledges.

After Friday's expected pomp and celebrations, the officials will then have to return home and get their companies to formally ratify the agreement.

Those countries that don't sign the agreement on Friday have a year to do so.

For additional information:

The United Nations

Climate Interactive

Climate Action Tracker

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