Official speeches and statements - May 18, 2016

1. Climate - COP21 - Ratification of the Paris Agreement - Bill in the National Assembly - Statement by Mme Ségolène Royal, Minister of the Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs, responsible for International Climate Relations - excerpts (Paris,2016-05-17)

Through this unanimous vote, France has the honour of being the first industrialized country to ratify the Paris Agreement and of encouraging the whole European Union to do so. The world is at a turning point in its history. Mankind and the planet are inseparable, and the international community can be proud of acting to restore the balance between human activity and nature in order to reduce global warming to below 2ºC.

The world has shouldered its responsibilities and worked actively at every level to address this challenge. Mobilization is under way; let us make it irreversible.

Regardless of traditional political divisions, all the deputies were able to come together for this unanimous vote on the fate of future generations. I pay tribute to the deputies’ work and commitment in adopting this ratification bill.

It sends a strong message to all the industrialized countries to ratify and implement the agreement and commit to carbon pricing.

In order for the agreement to succeed, we must act quickly, together and fairly, and grasp the opportunities for development and growth which building decarbonized economies presents.

«None of us acting alone can achieve success.» (...) (Nelson Mandela).