Fire up the BBQ and crack open a brewski. We (un)officially have a new international holiday.

On November 4th, 2016 the Paris Climate Agreement entered into force. Its 195 signatories — including major polluters like India, China and the United States — are now legally bound by the terms of the pact. There is still a lot of work ahead if we are to keep warming under 2º C, the stated goal of the accord. But, the Paris Agreement marks a major milestone in the fight against climate change, and one that has already produced remarkable progress.

In Paris, world leaders sent a signal to businesses, investors and policymakers that they are serious about tackling the carbon crisis. Governments and markets responded. This year saw major investment in renewable energy as dollars, euros, pounds and yuan fled from fossil fuels.

What’s next for the future of our species? Diplomats are meeting again, this time in Marrakech, Morocco. They are expected to strengthen the terms of the Paris Agreement and firm up plans to curb global carbon pollution.

Already, the landmark accord has made a huge impact.

Source: Mina Lee

Jeremy Deaton and Mina Lee write and produce original artwork for Nexus Media, a syndicated newswire covering climate, energy, policy, art and culture. You can follow them at @deaton_jeremy and @minalee89.