Paris Agreement Ratified by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry

Global warming is one of the most daunting issues the entirety of the world has to face at present. According to studies, each year in the 21st century gained the title of being the hottest year on record. In fact, the overall temperature from 2011 - 2015 is considered the hottest five year period in history. Moreover, carbon dioxide levels has increased by a whopping 34% since the industrial revolution. The statistic is particularly worrisome considering its direct effect on the inhabitants of the planet. Based on research, in the next few years global warming would be responsible for the deaths of around 150,000 people every year.

Fortunately, steps have been made in order to alleviate the problem of climate change and global warming. One of the most notable plans of action is the Paris Agreement - initially signed by 193 countries.

Last November 11, 2016, Pakistan authorities released a statement detailing their ratification of the Paris Agreement as reported by the Economic Times. The ceremony was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. To date, Pakistan is the 14th country to ratify the groundbreaking agreement.

In lieu of the president, Pakistan's representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, put forward the instrument of ratification signed off by the president of the country. "With the ratification, Pakistan has become 104th country to ratify the agreement, which entered into force earlier this month" quipped Pakistan's foreign office earlier this month.

The Paris Agreement is an initiative operating within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It aims to achieve three goals. First is to halt the increase of global temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels. Second is to cultivate global climate resilience and improve every nation's ability to cope with the effects of climate change, and third, to encourage financial decisions that lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.