【明報專訊】The Paris Agreement (《巴黎協定》) is a universal legally-binding global climate deal the representatives of some countries adopted at the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21, 巴黎氣候會議) in December 2015. It is to enter into force on November 4 this year.

The agreement was opened for signature in April this year. Government officials then deicided and worked on the necessary steps for ratifying the agreement. On October 5, more than 55 countries accounting for 55% of global emissions ratified the agreement. "Today is a historic day in the fight to protect our planet for future generations," said US President Barack Obama (奧巴馬) that day.

Countries with high greenhouse gas emissions like the US and China have already joined the agreement. One of the aims of the Paris Agreement is to keep the global temperature rise in this century well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels (工業革命前) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5℃. The agreement is also aimed at increasing countries' ability to deal with the impact of climate change.

(sources: Ming Pao, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website)

■ Photo Story

The high-level signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement took place at the United Nations Headquarters (聯合國總部) in New York City, the US, on April 22 this year. Some citizens staged a performance outside the building in an attempt to raise conference participants' environmental protection awareness.

■ English highway﹕ enter / come into force

When a law or a rule enters or comes into force, it begins to be used.

e.g. The new regulations will come into force next month.

■ Quiz

Answer the following questions.

(Answers on next text)

1. What is the correct order of the events regarding the Paris Agreement?

a. signed by countries→enters into force→ratified by countries

b. enters into force→ratified by countries→signed by countries

c. signed by countries→ratified by countries→enters into force

d. ratified by countries→enters into force→signed by countries

2. Is the following sentence true or false?

Some countries with high greenhouse gas emissions have ratified the Paris Agreement. True / False

3. Find a word in paragraph two to fill the blank.

The building has a ___________ significance.

4. Complete the following sentence.

The countries that have joined the Paris Agreement have agreed not only to hold the increase in the average global temperature to well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels but also to ______________.

■ Glossary

ratify (v) 正式批准

emission (n) 排放

greenhouse gas (n phr) 溫室氣體

pursue (v) 追求