Why was the Paris Climate Agreement opened for signatures on Earth Day in 2016?

The Paris Climate Agreement was opened for signatures on Earth Day—April 22, 2016—as an emblematic gesture to align the international treaty with the global movement dedicated to environmentalism and ecological sustainability.1

By choosing this date for the formal signing ceremony at United Nations headquarters, organizers underscored the connection between the agreement’s goal of curbing greenhouse gas emissions and the broader mission of Earth Day, which has historically served to raise awareness of global warming and promote collective action on environmental issues. This symbolic timing highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis and the international community's commitment to addressing it through the framework established at the 2015 climate conference.2314