The world agreed to the first universal climate deal on Saturday (Paris time) which requires countries to limit global warming to well below two degrees, with an aspirational goal of 1.5.
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The world has already warmed nearly 1C, which has caused major problems for many people around the world particularly in developing countries, such as more severe storms, droughts and rising seas, according to scientists.
Climate protesters holding a banner extending two kilometers as a symbol for the red line that the climate negotiators will not cross on the road to curb climate change.
Five-yearly reviews were a sticking point for the Australian delegation and Ms Bishop admits it’s going to be tough, while cautioning the government wouldn’t jeopardise the economy.
“The success in bridging seemingly impossible divides is entirely due to the incredible diplomatic efforts of France in bringing this deal together”. The last climate summit, in Copenhagen in 2009, ended in failure when countries couldn’t agree on a binding emissions pact.
“This is a historic moment, not just for us and our world today, but for our children, our grandchildren and future generations”, Stern said.
In the United States, many Republicans will see the pact as a risky endeavour that threatens to trade economic prosperity for an uncertain if greener future.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon memorably said in September 2014 that there was no “Plan B” for preventing global warming, because there’s no “Planet B” – that we’ve found anyway.
She adds that the next decade is “critical” for implementing the agreement and tackling climate change.
“What we have adopted is not only an agreement, but we have written a new chapter of hope in the lives of seven billion people on the planet”, Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said to loud applause from exhausted but elated climate negotiators.
For it to take effect, all 196 global entities represented at the talks will need to adopt the agreement.
Some delegates, however, noted that the long-term temperature goals would not be achieved by the emissions targets more than 180 countries have set for themselves so far. It aims to keep global temperatures from rising another degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) between now and 2100.
This deal puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong side of history.
He said the global community couldn’t be complacent despite the agreement as the problem of carbon emissions wasn’t solved.
“I engage with other countries if they want to join us to establish a coalition for a carbon price so that investment can be redirected”, Hollande told delegates in Paris.
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The Government also pledged at the Paris conference to provide $200 million in climate-related support to Pacific Island countries over the next four years.
