Brazil Ratifies Paris Deal; Joins Top Polluters U.S., China

Brazil, one of the world's largest emitters of heat-trapping gases, on Monday ratified the Paris agreement to fight global warming, joining top polluters United States and China and bringing the deal closer to implementation.

Brazil's President Michel Temer signed the ratification in Brasilia following approval by both houses of Congress. U.S. and China had ratified the deal on September 3.

With Brazil's ratification, the Paris climate agreement comes closer to the requirements to enter into force.  It needs ratification by at least 55 parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change representing at least 55 percent of global emissions.

The U.N. said that by September 7 it had 27 ratifications amounting to 39 percent of global emissions. Brazil accounts for around 10 to 12 percent of global carbon pollution.

Temer, who took over the presidency permanently last month after predecessor Dilma Rousseff was removed from office on charges of breaking budget laws, said Brazil's support for the climate deal has not changed with the new government.

With its ratification, Brazil reinforced its commitment to cut carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2025 and 43 percent by 2030, compared to 2005.

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