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MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday hailed "unstoppable" momentum of the Paris Agreement, expressing optimism on the future involvement of the next U.S. administration on climate change.
"The Paris Agreement has come into force in a record time, which once seemed to be unthinkable, now has become unstoppable," the secretary-general told a press conference here during UN conference on climate change.
So far, 110 out of the 193 signatory parties have ratified the agreement, according to the latest tally provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"Never in the history of the United Nations, any convention, treaty or agreement, has entered into force in such a short period of time," Ban stressed. "Members signed the agreement because it represents the interest of their countries and the whole world."
For his 10th and last presence at a Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, Ban said he has been convinced after traveling around the world that climate change is happening.
"We have no Plan B, because we have no Planet B," he stressed.
Meanwhile, Ban said he had talked about climate change with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week.
"I remained very optimistic about our efforts to combat climate change," Ban said. "Trump, to be the U.S. president, will understand the seriousness and urgency of climate change."
During the campaign, Trump once called global warming a "hoax" and promised to pull out of the Paris Agreement once elected.
"We have seen many campaign rhetorics," Ban said. "But he (Trump) may have to realize the reality of the world's programs, particularly on climate change."
Ban believed low-carbon economy is the answer to the business future, noting the UN is working with some of the largest American states like California, cities like Las Vegas and corporations like General Mills on less carbon emissions and deforestation, because "they have understood the severity of climate change phenomenon."
"As a very successful business person before being elected, Trump understands market forces are already at work and we need to harness climate change. He will make a good and wise decision," the secretary-general added.
