Sherpas from G20 member countries agreed to sign the Paris Agreement beginning April 22 or after in order to encourage its implementation, a Presidency Statement on Climate Change at the G20 Sherpa Meeting said Thursday.
"We shall work to promote the implementation of the Paris Agreement, including by signing the Agreement on 22 April, 2016 or thereafter," the Statement said.
This is an "early harvest" for the forthcoming G20 Hangzhou summit, according to an official Chinese press release.
The Sherpas also agreed to take domestic steps to bring the Paris Agreement into force as soon as possible, according to the Statement.
The Paris Agreement was adopted at the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the French capital in December. It will be open for government signatures on April 22.
The Sherpas welcomed the adoption of the Paris Agreement, and were satisfied that G20 members had played a key role in facilitating this progress, said the Statement.
"We recognized that the Paris Agreement is a comprehensive, balanced and ambitious document, which reflects the principles of the Convention, including the principles of equity and of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances," the Statement said.
The Paris Agreement marked a milestone in global climate cooperation, it added.
The second G20 Sherpa Meeting is being convened in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province from April 6 to 8. The Sherpas are also scheduled to discuss issues including world economy, new path for growth, trade and investment, sustainable development agenda, energy, anti-corruption, employment and food security.
Li Baodong, Chinese G20 Sherpa and Vice Foreign Minister, calling on the Sherpas to make joint efforts for a fruitful Hangzhou summit.
This year's G20 Leaders Summit will be held in September in Hangzhou, a popular tourist city and capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.
