Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presents the Thai documents aceepting the Paris Agreement on climate change to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday. (AP photo)UNITED NATIONS - Thirty-one countries formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change on Wednesday, surpassing a major hurdle toward putting the landmark pact into force. "I am confident that, by the time I leave office, the Paris Agreement will have entered into force." As a major climate change advocate, the U.N. chief pledged to make fighting climate change a top priority when he took office nearly 10 years ago. In his push for tangible results, major progress was made when a record 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement on Earth Day, April 22, at the United Nations headquarters.

Source: Bangkok Post September 22, 2016 01:18 UTC