Signing the Paris climate agreement: Can the EU still be a leader?

(EurActiv, 21 Apr 2016) More than 140 signatures to the Paris Agreement are expected in New York this Friday (22 April). This represents a broad majority of nations worldwide and expresses, once again, political commitment to the fight against climate change, writes Teresa Ribera.

Teresa Ribera is the director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI).

Paris was a success because cooperation and action replaced the zero sum game. It was a success because the agreement combined dynamism and learning with trust and commitment to action, equity and sustainable development.

The Paris climate conference (COP21) has changed expectations and on actors’ assessments of opportunities. Business and investors look differently at their strategic agendas and people are more confident in society’s ability to transform their future. But real success is yet to be proven.

The early entry into force of the agreement would help to ensure the credibility of the system and would add pressure to speed up regulation and coordinated policies. It would also support the efforts of companies shaping their business models and innovation investments in accordance with the fight against climate change. Finally, it would enhance more coherent and fair development patterns, based on solidarity as well as on a smart mainstreaming of the sustainable development agenda everywhere.

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EurActiv, 21 Apr 2016: Signing the Paris climate agreement: Can the EU still be a leader?