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Pressure is growing on the UK to ratify the Paris climate change agreement after both China and the US announced they had done so at a joint ceremony ahead of the G20 Summit.
The landmark deal obligates countries to cut emissions to keep the global average rise in temperature to below 2C. The UK, one of the signatories in Paris, has yet to formally adopt the deal.
With China and the US both ratifying the deal, it moves a step closer to becoming a legally binding, international treaty, which will happen once countries which between them produce 55 per cent of global carbon emissions adopt the treaty.
China and US collectively produce 40 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
Robin Willoughby, Oxfam's head of food and climate change, stressed that the UK must ratify the deal as soon as possible if it wanted to be seen as a global leader.
"If the UK is to continue to justify its reputation as a global leader on climate change, the Government must ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible. This deal can offer a lifeline for the world's poorest people who are already feeling the full force of our changing climate," he said.
Camilla Toulmin, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said: “There’s no reason now for the UK not to ratify the agreement as soon as possible.
"Doing so would help cement our reputation for leadership on climate change and send a strong signal to countries globally that we’re looking to build stronger links with in a post-Brexit world that we’re working with them towards a common goal."
Climate change protests around the worldShow all 25 1 /25Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy
Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris
Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France
Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France
Climate change protests around the world A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Climate change protests around the world A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France
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Climate change protests around the world People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City
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Climate change protests around the world Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York
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Climate change protests around the world People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York
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Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy
Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland
Climate change protests around the world Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaía, Yemen
Climate change protests around the world Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York
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Climate change protests around the world People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once
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Climate change protests around the world
Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece
Climate change protests around the world A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Climate change protests around the world Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California
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Greenpeace UK's chief scientist Dr Doug Parr said Britain had led the way on the issue in the past and must now do so again.
"It's the UK's turn to help push it over the finishing line. Britain showed its climate leadership with the Climate Change Act and the crucial role it played in the Paris negotiations. It's now time to show that leadership once again," Dr Parr said.
"Every extra tonne of CO2 released into the atmosphere makes it harder to reverse the impacts of climate change already unfolding all around us, leaving a greater burden to future generations.
"There are no excuses left for the UK government to delay the ratification of the Paris deal, least of all Brexit. If anything, the UK has never been more in need to demonstrate it's a reliable partner on its international commitments."
The UK has also been urged to ratify the agreement by Pacific islanders who face losing their homes as sea levels rise.
The Marshall Islands are only two metres above sea level and will face significant issues if climate change is not tackled. Rising waters have already engulfed a number of small islands in the Pacific.
World news in picturesShow all 50 1 /50World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican
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World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month
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World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk
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A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “Climate change remains one of the most serious long-term risks to our economic and national security and one of the most serious threats facing our world. The UK’s commitment to tackling it, internationally and domestically, is as strong as ever.
“We are committed to ratifying the Paris Agreement as soon as possible.”
A Greenpeace petition calling on Theresa May to ratify the Paris climate deal has gathered over 100,000 signatures.
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