Theresa May tells UN Britain will 'ratify Paris climate change agreement before end of 2016'

Theresa May - Michael Kappeler/DPA/PA Images

The UK will ratify the Paris climate change agreement before the end of the year, the Prime Minister has announced.

In her maiden speech at the United Nations in New York, Theresa May said Britain will “play our part in the international effort against climate change”.

“In a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement and complete these before the end of the year,” she said.

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The UK negotiated the landmark deal as part of the European Union in December last year. It is expected Britain will take on emissions reductions based on an EU-wide “burden-sharing” agreement.

A UK official told reporters in New York the Prime Minister’s announcement was “absolutely a reflection of her commitment to delivering on that international agreement where the UK has been at the forefront of efforts”.

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark said: “The Government is determined to tackle climate change to help create a safer and more prosperous future for us all. That is why we are now starting the process of ratifying the landmark climate deal signed in Paris.”

As part of the climate change agreement, countries agreed to cut emissions enough to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2C.

Earlier this month the US and China, responsible for 40 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, both formally joined the Paris global climate agreement.

Greenpeace welcomed May’s announcement, but executive John Sauven added:. “This signal is a welcome moment of clarity amidst the all-pervading Brexit uncertainty, but it could have come with a much speedier timetable. Some of the world’s major economies have already ratified the Paris deal. So why is the UK government taking so long?”

The Paris deal is the world's first comprehensive climate deal. It will only come into force legally after it is validated by at least 55 countries, which between them produce 55 per cent of global carbon emissions.