Paris climate talks: 196 countries approve landmark deal

“It is the best outcome we could have hoped for, not just for the least-developed countries, but for all citizens of the world”, he said.

The climate agreement was reached by almost 200 nations and is created to curb global warming.

“Successive generations will, I am sure, mark the 12 December 2015 as a date when cooperation, vision, responsibility, a shared humanity and a care for our world took centre stage”, she said.

Obama added that Saturday’s agreement is the first of many.

Negotiators from 196 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) spent two weeks working on the the agreement.

“Ultimately you have companies here in the USA that have made important investments and important gains in renewable energy and now they have customers all around the world, because now we have countries all around the world that are seeking to invest in technologies to meet the goals they have laid out”. Key blocs, including G77 group of developing countries, and nations such as India and China supported the proposals. Even if all the initial targets set in Paris are met, we will only be part of the way there when it comes to removing carbon from the atmosphere, so we can not be complacent because of today’s agreement. Hollande hailed the deal saying, “In Paris, there have been many revolutions over the centuries”. “I want to confirm Russia’s determination to continue strengthening our actions to reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the environment in accordance with the agreement”, Alexander Bedritsky said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Obama is “writing checks he can’t cash and stepping over the middle class to take credit for an “agreement” that is subject to being shredded in 13 months”. Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma said Americans can expect the government to cite the agreement as an excuse for placing emission limits on every sector of the USA economy. Many delegates hugged, while others had tears in their eyes.

Several Democratic lawmakers applauded Obama’s efforts.

Calling it a turning point for the world, US President Barack Obama said the adoption of a landmark climate change deal represented the best chance for mankind to save the planet. For the first time, all countries will be held accountable by independent review for acting according to their pledges.