Obama optimism over climate pact tempered by GOP opposition

The deal was reached after two weeks of intense negotiations during the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties and the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP21) held at the French capital.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said “this is truly a historic moment”.

No one expects that over the next 40 years, the world would entirely stop using every form of technology that releases greenhouse gases.

He acknowledged that a Republican president could undo the agreement, but said there is already plenty of evidence that climate change is having a damaging and expensive impact with more intense storms, wildfires and melting glaciers.

These issues have sparked tension over the years with the United States and other developed nations in the UN climate forum.

The accord sets a goal of limiting average warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures – and of striving for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) if possible.

Todd pushed Kerry on what exactly will happen if a country does not fully adhere to the agreement. “When the sea levels were rising in 2015, were crops were failing, when deserts were expanding, what was it that was so hard?” “This is a victory for humanity because we found a common ground because we found a universal, balance, ambitious and acceptable agreement”, he said. “A clause (Article 4.4) in the draft final agreement, circulated to all countries earlier in the afternoon, which set out the obligations of countries to reduce emissions, states that developed countries “shall” continue taking lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets” while developing countries “should” continue enhancing their mitigation efforts.

So climate change is really about wealth redistribution?

JOYCE: Like the last climate deal in Kyoto in 1997, the Paris agreement is part experiment and part gamble, with very high stakes.

The World Coal Association responded to the Paris Agreement by calling for support for “low emissions coal technologies” and the need to speed up efforts to deploy technology which captures emissions from power stations and industry and stores them permanently underground.

It includes a target to keep temperature rises “well below” 2C and commits to strive to curb increases to 1.5C, as well as a five-year review system to increase ambition on cutting emissions to meet the temperature goals. But, because countries have promised to try to peak emissions as soon as possible – with the recognition that this will be later for developing countries – and to arrive at “net zero emissions” between 2050 and 2100, it obliges every nation, rich or poor, to publish its “most ambitious” proposal to reduce emissions beginning 2020, for scrutiny. Yesterday in Paris, the world’s governments adopted the most comprehensive climate deal in history. Whether or not this becomes a true turning point for the world, though, depends critically on how seriously countries follow through. “In short, this agreement will mean less of the carbon pollution that threatens our planet and more of the jobs and economic growth driven by low-carbon investments”. It sets out a clear long-term temperature limit for the planet and a clear way of getting there.

It has a goal of setting aside 100-billion U.S. dollars a year for developing countries by 2020. More than anything though the deal signifies, a new way for the world to achieve progress – without it costing the earth. Celebrations continued through the night in Paris restaurants and nightclubs.