Paris climate pact opens for signatures

The landmark Paris climate pact opened for signatures by leaders from 171 countries Friday morning, marking the first step toward the pact's entry into force.

National representatives are being called to the podium in the UN General Assembly Hall to sign the agreement one by one.

Taking place on the International Mother Earth Day, the signing ceremony would break the first-day record for signatures which is previously set in 1982 when 119 states signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

After the signing, national representatives will have the chance to speak throughout the day and a high-level event on implementation will convene in the afternoon.

Other countries still have one year to ink the agreement as it is open for signature from April 22, 2016 to April 21, 2017.

Adopted by 196 parties last year in Paris, the agreement sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius, and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

Source: XINHUA