The EU Parliament has approved the ratification of the Paris Agreement.

During the vote yesterday, a total of 610 members voted in favor, against 38 who said no to the approval and 31 abstentions.

The final approval of the climate deal follows EU states agreement to fast-track the ratification it.

Now the Council will formally adopt the decision via an urgent written procedure so that the EU, together with the seven member states that have completed the ratification process, deposit the ratification instruments to the UN on Friday.

The seven member states that have completed their national domestic processes so far are Hungary, France, Slovakia, Austria, Malta, Portugal and Germany.

They account for a total of 5% of global emissions while the EU accounts for 12 % of global GHG.

A total of 62 states have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval so far, accounting for 51.89% of total GHG.

Bahamas, Ukraine and India are among those countries which have ratified the deal and the UK, the US and China have committed to do it before the end of the year.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) has welcomed the news but calls for more action to tackle climate change.

Asad Rehman, FoE climate campaigner said: “A legally binding international climate deal is a vital step but this is no time to stop and pat ourselves on the back. Scientists have warned that we have already passed a key threshold, and people across the globe are facing killer floods and droughts. What matters most is action now, rather than later.”