UK to ratify Paris climate deal this year: Theresa May

London [UK], Sept. 21 (ANI): United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May has promised that her country would ratify the Paris Agreement by the end of this year. The commitment was given during her maiden speech at the United Nations in New York. "The UK remained determined to play our part in the international effort against climate change . In a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement and complete these before the end of the year," the Guardian quoted her as saying. Her decision to speed up the ratification would relieve green campaigners and charities amid worries that the she could start retreating from Britain's position as a leader on tackling climate change after exiting the European Union. Meanwhile, a UK official said the Prime Minister's announcement was "absolutely a reflection of her commitment to delivering on that international agreement where the UK has been at the forefront of efforts". The UK had negotiated at the Paris climate talks as part of the EU, which is a major emitter but is not expected to ratify this year. Though France hosted last December's summit and ratified in June, French President François Hollande has called on countries to redouble their efforts to ratify before the next major UN climate summit in Marrakesh in November. (ANI)