President Obama: The United States Formally Enters the Paris Agreement

Today, the US joined China in taking a major step forward in the global effort to combat climate change.

Last December, more than 190 countries adopted the Paris Agreement, the most ambitious climate change agreement in history. In order for the agreement to enter into force, at least 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions.

Today, the United States and China deposited with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon their respective instruments to join the Paris Agreement, marking a significant contribution to the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement.

Today's action by the United States and China to formally join a significant step towards the entry into force of this country with 40 percent of global issues. this year.

President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold an expanded bilateral meeting at West Lake State House in Hangzhou, China, Sept. 3, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Read the President's remarks:

We are here together because we believe that we all face the challenges of climate change.

One of the reasons I am sure this America will help to protect this planet for future generations. Over the past seven and a half years, we've transformed the United States into a global leader in the fight against climate change. But this is not a fight that any country, no matter how powerful, can take alone. That's why last December's Paris Agreement was so important. Nearly 200 nations come together - a strong, enduring framework to set the world on a race to a low-carbon future.

And someday we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet.

There are no shortage of cynics who thought the agreement would not happen. But they missed two big things: The investments that we made to innovate in clean energy, and the strong, principled diplomacy over the course of years that we were able to see in the Paris Agreement. The United States and China were central to that effort. Over the past few years, our joint leadership has been one of the most significant drivers of global action.

In 2014, President Xi and I stood together in Beijing to announce landmark climate targets for our two countries to meet. That announcement set on the road to Paris by jumpstarting an intense diplomatic effort to other countries on the same race. In 2015, we would be united in Washington to lay out additional shares in our two countries. This year, in 2016, we meet again to commit to the agreement ahead of schedule, creating the prospect that the agreement might enter into force ahead of schedule, as well.

The United States and China are taking that step today, as our two nations formally join the Paris Agreement.

Of course, we could not have done this extraordinary work of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who has been an outstanding leader on this issue, as well.

Now, I believe that the Paris Agreement is going to prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's efforts as pivotal. For 55 countries representing 55 percent of global emissions must formally join.

Together, the US and China represent about 40 percent of global emissions. So today, we are moving the world significantly closer to the goal that we have set.

We have a saying in America - that you need to put your money where your mouth is. And when it comes to fighting climate change, that's what we're doing, both the United States and China. We're leading by example. The world's two largest economies and two largest emitters, our entrance into this agreement continues the momentum of Paris, and should give the rest of the world's confidence - whether developed or developing countries - that a low-carbon future is where the world is heading.

Of course, the Paris Agreement will not solve the climate crisis. But it does establish an enduring framework that makes it easier for them to meet their targets. That means full implementation of this agreement will help or prevent some of the consequences of climate change.

This is the single-best chance that we have to deal with a problem that could end up transforming this planet in a way that makes it very difficult for us to deal with all the other challenges that we may face.

President Xi and I intend to continue working together in the months ahead to make sure our countries lead on climate. Here we are, in California, we are working on a global agreement to improve the quality of the HFCs, and we are now just six weeks away from final negotiations. We also have the chance to reach a global agreement to curb emissions from the global market. And today, we're putting forward roadmaps to get both negotiations done this year.

On each of these issues, the United States and China have developed a significant record of leadership on one of the most important issues of our time. Our teams have worked together and developed a relationship that should serve us well. And despite our differences on other issues, we hope that our willingness to work together on this issue will inspire greater ambition and greater action around the world.

Yes, diplomacy can be difficult, and progress on the world stage can be slow. But together, we're proving that it is possible.

And I was reflecting before we came in with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the meeting that we had in Copenhagen, which was quite chaotic. And I think it is fair to say that you have looked at the outcome of that meeting, the prospects of a Paris Agreement seemed very far away. And yet, here we are, which indicates that there is a vision and where are the countries of China and the United States are prepared to show leadership and to lead by example, it is possible for us to create a world that is more secure, more prosperous, and more

So to all of you who have participated in this extraordinary effort, thank you very much. Thank you to President Xi. Thank you to the Secretary General.