The Latest: Climate deal tops required 55 ratifications

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, left, shakes hands with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a ceremony to mark more signatories to the Paris climate accords at U.N. headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (The Associated Press)

Mexico's Secretary of Environment and Natural ResourcesRafael Pacchiano Alaman, left, presents his country's agreement of the Paris Agreement on climate change, to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

United States Secretary of State John Kerry addresses a high-level event on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change during the 71st session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) (The Associated Press)

The Latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local):

9 a.m.

The Paris Agreement on climate change has topped the required 55 ratifications — but the countries that have formally joined don't account for the minimum 55 percent of global emissions needed for the deal to enter into force.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced at the end of a special event that with 31 more countries handing over their official documents on Wednesday, there are now 60 parties that have ratified the deal representing over 47.5 percent of global emissions.

"We have crossed one of the two thresholds," Ban said. "We need 7.5 percent more."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he is confident of reaching the magic number of 55 percent before the next U.N. climate conference, which starts Nov. 7 in Marrakech, Morocco.

He urged people everywhere "to become warriors for the planet."