On Saturday September 3, two of the world’s largest economies, the United States and China, formally ratified the Paris agreement. Anticipating a snowball effect, the joint statement from the two influential countries will likely inspire other countries, such as Brazil and Canada, to ratify the agreement as well. At this rate, it’s anticipated that the Paris agreement will enter into force before the end of the year, moving at a quicker pace than almost all other international agreements.
While the news of the ratification is a step in the right direction, we want more.
Chair of our Board of Directors, Nnimmo Bassey, and President of Global Greengrants Fund, Terry Odendahl, highlight a crucial piece missing from the agreement: “The key concepts of justice, including common but differentiated responsibility, have barely survived on life support provided by the preamble to the Paris Agreement.”
However, Nnimmo and Terry note that all hope is not lost: “Thousands of climate justice groups around the world are offering solutions from those most affected, including indigenous peoples, women and youth.”
At Global Greengrants Fund, we continue to support people on the front lines of climate change. We stand with community leaders, including marginalized groups, women, indigenous communities, and youth, who experience firsthand the effects of climate chaos and are mobilizing locally to take action.