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21:19 GMT
NEW YORK, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- The United Nations on Thursday welcomed warmly the steps taken by the new US President Joe Biden on his country's return to the Paris Agreement on climate change and the World Health Organization (WHO).
"We look forward to the leadership of the United States in accelerating global efforts towards net zero, including bringing forward a new nationally determined contribution with ambitious 2030 targets and climate finance in advance of COP26 (twenty-sixth Conference of Parties) in Glasgow this year," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in a briefing.
The US signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016 and expressed its consent to be bound by the Agreement by acceptance on 3 September 2016, before withdrawing from the Agreement as of 4 November 2020.
A new instrument of acceptance of the Paris Agreement by the US was signed by President Biden on 20 January and deposited with the Secretary-General on the same day - that is, yesterday, he noted.
"The Paris Agreement will enter into force for the US on 19 February 2021, in accordance with article 21(3) of the Agreement," Dujarric said.
That's just sort of the legal notice and the new instruments of acceptance by the US have also been posted on the UN's treaty section website, he pointed out.
The Secretary-General also welcomed the US' stated re-engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Supporting the WHO is absolutely critical to the world's efforts for a better coordinated response against COVID-19, the Secretary-General said," he stated.
He argued that this is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.
With vaccines being a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19, the US joining and supporting the COVAX facility will give momentum to efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all countries, Dujarric said.
And, regarding that, on the legal aspects of that, yesterday, the US formally informed the Secretary-General of the revocation of its notification of withdrawal of 6 July 2020 from the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which would have been effective, under certain conditions, on 6 July of this year.
Accordingly, the United States remains a party to the WHO Constitution, and without interruption, a Member of the World Health Organization since 21 June 1948, he affirmed.
"Lastly, we also welcomed the positive steps announced by the US administration relating to migration and refugees," Dujarric announced.
The Secretary-General looks forward to working with the new US Administration to strengthen multilateral cooperation in these areas and hopes the US will join the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, he concluded. (end)
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