UNB, Dhaka :More than 160 countries have so far confirmed that they will sign the Paris Agreement on climate change on April 22, the first day that the agreement will be open for signature.”Next Friday will truly be a historic moment. It’ll be a great moment for multilateral efforts and this (UN) organisation,” said Selwin Hart, Director of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Support team, disclosing the number on Tuesday night through a videoconference from the UN Headquarters in New York.Dan Shepard, Information Officer, Communications Campaign Service,Department of Public Information and Janos Tisovszky, Chief of Information Center Service, DPI were present. M Moniruzzaman, Office-in-Charge, UN Information Centre, Dhaka coordinated the videoconference from Dhaka. Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju will represent Bangladesh on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the signing ceremony. The historic climate agreement was adopted in December last in Paris.The signing ceremony will be hosted by United Nations. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 22 at the UN Headquarters in New York which the UN sees as “victory of multilateralism.”This would surpass the previous record of 119 signatures for an opening day signing for an international agreement, set by the Law of the Sea in Montego Bay in 1982.”On April 22, we will break a three-decade old record on signature to an international agreement. From that perspective it will be historic,” Hart told media across the world mentioning that the political commitment all saw in Paris remains “strong”.He also said some 10 countries have indicated that they will deposit their instruments of ratification at the signing ceremony. Asked about others countries who are yet to make commitment to sign the deal, Hart said, “….countries can still sign. However, the collective image of over 160 countries signing is a powerful one.”He described the Paris agreement as a win-win deal for all parties as it benefits the large, small and island countries showing “multilateralism” is only protection. Asked how small and vulnerable countries can benefit, Hart said, “Your country can benefit in many ways. Climate change is a global challenge but its impact is local.” So, he added, if countries around the world don’t reduce emissions and address climate change issues at a scale required, the impact will get worst around the world.
