(VOVworld) - Germany's lower of house of parliament on Thursday ratified the Paris agreement on climate change. 60 other countries who have committed to the landmark agreement designed to stem the planet's rising temperatures.

Germany's commitment brings the deal a step closer to reality after a string of countries ratified the climate rescue pact during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. The accord requires all countries to devise plans to achieve the goal of keeping the rise in temperatures within 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Not including Germany, the 60 countries that have formally signed up so far represent some 48 percent of global emissions. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was confident the accord would come into legal force by the end of the year.