France on Wednesday became the first of the Group of Seven advanced economies and the second European country to ratify the Paris Agreement, a deal on curbing global warming reached last year by 195 countries.

The ratification was formally authorized by the French parliament last week. Hungary was the first nation to ratify the agreement.

The Paris agreement aims to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with preindustrial times. It enters into force once 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions have joined it.

China, the world's top carbon emitter, said it intends to ratify the agreement before the G-20 summit in China in September. The United States, the second-largest emitter, also announced its intention to ratify this year.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Images from the Paris Climate Summit

Climate activists demonstrate in Paris, Saturday, Dec.12, 2015 during the COP21, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)