Obama says Paris deal ‘best chance to save the planet’

“After relentless efforts, the Paris agreement that we have achieved today is an agreement that is fair and just, comprehensive and balanced, highly ambitious, enduring and effective”, said Mr Xie.

Secretary of state for energy and climate change Amber Rudd said the agreement was “an important step forward” and vital for long-term economic and global security.

“As a result of the climate agreement we can be more confident the Earth will be in better shape”, he said.

The deal is the first comprehensive global climate accord.

Real turning points in human history are rare indeed, but it can already be said with some confidence that the Paris Agreement, adopted by acclamation at the final plenary session of COP21 on Saturday night in Le Bourget, is surely one of them.

In stark contrast to the shortcomings of previous global climate negotiations, the Paris COP21 talks have ended with an agreement stronger than most expected.

A universal and durable agreement requiring actions from all countries, and spanning decades, unlike previous agreements which needed to be renegotiated regularly.

The countries of the world have made “a historic choice” in deciding to work together to address “the defining challenge of our times”, Ban said.

“It’s outrageous that the deal that’s on the table is being spun as a success when it undermines the rights of the world’s most vulnerable communities and has nearly nothing binding to ensure a safe and liveable climate for future generations”, Nick Dearden, director of the Global Justice Now advocacy group, said.

The deal also pledges that the developed world will mobilize at least $100 billion a year for developing countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change.

Among the many goals is that of limiting the world’s rise in average temperature to “well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius”.

The new agreement also establishes the principle that future national plans will be no less ambitious than existing ones, which means these 188 climate action plans provide a firm floor and foundation for higher ambition, according to the report.

The deal, called the Paris Agreement, includes commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions from individual nations.