UN says EU may ratify Paris Agreement soon

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2015 file photo, a plume of steam billows from the coal-fired Merrimack Station in Bow, N.H. If the nation doesn’t do more, the U.S. probably won’t quite meet the dramatic heat-trapping gas reduction goal it promised in last year’s Paris agreement to battle climate change, according to a new study. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with heads of state from small island nations most at risk from the harmful effects of climate change, in Paris. If the nation doesn’t do more, the United States probably won’t quite meet the dramatic heat-trapping gas reduction goal it promised in last year’s Paris agreement to battle climate change, according to a new study. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) (The Associated Press)

UNITED NATIONS – U.N. officials say the Paris Agreement on Climate Change appears likely to enter into force within the next few days with India announcing that it has ratified the agreement and the EU signaling it may ratify within the next few days.

The two ratifications would mean that 63 countries accounting for nearly 65 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions will have approved the accord, which is set to take effect 30 days after 55 countries accounting for 55 percent of emissions deposit their ratification instruments with the U.N.

"We've heard that Europe Union may deposit its ratification instruments with us much sooner than we had expected, which would be tremendous news," U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.