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The Syrian Arab Republic has announced this morning that it will sign the Paris Agreement, leaving the United States as the only country not pledging to climate action.

A negotiating member close to the Syrian delegation commented: “The assessment of the impact of a commitment such as the Paris Accord on the economy of a country at war takes time. The decision whether or not to join the Agreement and its impacts were being discussed in recent months. Syria was convinced by partners that this was the best way forward”. When asked if the ‘partners’ mentioned referred to Syria’s close ally Russia, the source refused to comment.

An observing member at the UNFCCC that wished to stay anonymous stated, “We should celebrate that the US is being completely isolated, and the Syrian delegation made the right choice. We should, however, not glorify the Syrian delegation because they still represent Al-asaad.”

Out of 197 parties in the United Nations, 196 have signed the Paris Agreement already, making it the fastest international treaty to enter into force, and demonstrating a clear commitment within the global community to tackle climate change. Of these countries, 169 have also ratified the agreement, leaving only 28 countries left that still need to pledge the inclusion of the international Paris Agreement into their resective national law systems.

In the plenary of the 2nd day of COP23 in Bonn, Germany, Syria announced their intention the sign the Agreement. Due to the heavy civil war that has terrorised the country since 2011, Syria did not commit to signing the Paris Agreement. Until now that is. Since it was the last remaining country to sign the agreement, Syria’s promise brings the whole world together in a strong stance against climate change.

That would leave the United States, which intends to leave the Agreement, as the only country in the world not committed to take climate action, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions or adapting to the impacts that the country is already suffering.