Paris Climate Agreement to Take Effect November 4th

The Paris Climate Agreement which President Obama referred to as a “turning point for our planet” will take effect on November 4, 2016. The agreement is the result of collaborative efforts between the world’s largest polluters and the small island nations which are threatened by rising sea levels. Under the Paris Agreement, both rich and poor countries must take responsibility for their contribution of greenhouse gas emissions which are causing global temperatures to rise and glaciers to melt. They must also present a work plan to reduce emissions. The countries will be responsible for working with their plan, reporting their progress to the U.N., and updating the plan every 5 years.