Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, told the United Nations that the UK will ratify the Paris agreement which tackles climate change.
May used her maiden speech to the UN on Tuesday to signal that Britain will take measures after leaving the EU to combat environmental threats.
She pledged that the UK is determined to “play our part in the international effort against climate change … In a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement and complete these before the end of the year.”
As a member of the EU, Britain played a part in the negotiations leading to the Paris agreement of December 2015.
France, which hosted the summit, had already ratified the agreement by June this year. Much was made in the news of a joint declaration from the US and China, both heavy emitters, that they will ratify it.
So far, 181 countries have taken the preliminary step of signing the agreement. Of these, some 60 countries have gone on to the formal stage of ratification.
Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business, said: “The government is determined to tackle climate change to help create a safer and more prosperous future for us all. That is why we are now starting the process of ratifying the landmark climate deal signed in Paris.”
A number of British business interests believe that ratification will encourage further business investment in the UK.
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