Peru on Monday submitted to the United Nations its instrument of ratification for the Paris Agreement on climate change. That makes it the 20th nation to take the step, according to a U.N. press release issued Tuesday.
Entry into force of the Paris Agreement is a three-step process requiring parties to adopt, then sign, and then ratify the accord. Nearly 200 nations in December adopted the deal at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in the French capital. More than 175 countries went on to sign the agreement in April in New York, and now nations have begun the process of ratification. The agreement will take effect 30 days after 55 nations representing at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions deposit their instruments of ratification.
Peru accounts for .22 percent of global emissions, the most significant contributor to ratify the agreement to date. Its inclusion brings the percentage of emissions represented to .40 percent.
The U.N. recently announced it will host a special event on Sept. 21 at U.N. headquarters in New York to give nations an opportunity to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession to the Paris Agreement.
The agreement is expected to enter into force in late 2016 or 2017.