"November 4, 2016, is a defining moment in human history," Kim said. "For the first time a global agreement to turn down the heat on our planet enters into force."
More than 90 countries accepted binding limits on carbon-based emissions at a December 2015 conference in Paris under the auspices of the United Nations.
In his statement, Kim also warned that countries must agree at an upcoming conference in Marrakech, Morocco to accelerate carbon cutbacks in order to reach a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
The statement added that $90 billion in infrastructure investment over the next 15 years, mainly in developing countries, will be needed to shift the global economy to low-carbon output based on renewable energy sources.