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Up to 170 states poised to sign landmark climate agreement

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2015 file photo, environmentalist activists form a human chain representing the peace sign and the spelling out "100% renewable", on the side line of the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Four months after negotiating a global climate agreement in Paris, government officials are coming to New York on Friday, April 22, 2016, to sign the pact in a ceremony at the United Nations. (AP PhotoMichel Euler, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2015 file photo, French President Francois Hollande, right, French Foreign Minister and president of the COP21 Laurent Fabius, second, right, United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres and United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-Moon applaud after the final conference at the COP21, the United Nations conference on climate change, in Le Bourget, north of Paris. Governments have adopted a global agreement that for the first time asks all countries to reduce or rein in their greenhouse gas emissions. Four months after negotiating a global climate agreement in Paris, government officials are coming to New York on Friday, April 22, 2016, to sign the pact in a ceremony at the United Nations. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this April 19, 2016 file photo, Indian Environment Minister, Prakash Javadekar, shows how messages are automatically sent to his mobile device when pollution at certain effluent treatment places remain higher than a stipulated measure for over 15 minutes, at a press conference in New Delhi, India. Javadekar enumerated several measures taken by India to meet its goals to combat climate change after the Paris agreement. Four months after negotiating a global climate agreement in Paris, government officials are coming to New York on Friday, April 22, 2016, to sign the pact in a ceremony at the United Nations. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, File) (The Associated Press)

UNITED NATIONS – Up to 170 countries are expected to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change Friday as the landmark deal moves closer to entering into force years ahead of schedule.

Secretary of State John Kerry is joining dozens of world leaders for a U.N. ceremony that should set a record for international diplomacy: Never have so many countries signed an agreement on the first available day.

States that don't sign Friday have a year to do so.

Many expect the climate agreement to enter into force long before the original deadline of 2020. Some say it could happen this year.

After signing, countries must formally approve the agreement through their domestic procedures. The United Nations says at least 13 countries could take that step Friday by depositing their instruments of ratification.

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