"China is a responsible developing country and acts as a participant in global climate change efforts." The leaders made their acts official by handing their documents of ratification – Obama’s in a black folder, Xi’s in red – to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Only 23 other nations that account for about 1% of global emissions had done so before the U.S. and China joined in ratification. The four represent another 9% of global emissions. Obama anticipated before the Paris deal was struck that ratification by the Senate was highly unlikely.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 03, 2016 10:01 UTC