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        World Leaders Open Summit Seeking Binding Climate Change Action

   by VOA News

   More than 150 world leaders gathered Monday in Paris for a U.N. summit
   with the goal of agreeing to binding measures to address climate change
   and keep global temperatures from rising to a level with catastrophic
   impacts.

   Peru's Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal, who chaired the last
   summit, opened the meeting by saying an agreement would show the world
   that countries can work together against global warming and terrorism.

   The goal of the summit is to limit average global warming to 2 degrees
   Celsius, perhaps less, compared to pre-Industrial Revolution levels, by
   curbing fossil fuel emissions that are blamed for climate change. Just
   this year, the U.N.'s weather agency says the average global
   temperature is set to rise by 1 degree Celsius, halfway to the limit
   the U.N. is seeking to impose.

   Before the summit opened, U.S. President Barack Obama highlighted the
   "necessary" coordination in fighting climate change between his country
   and China as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

   ''

   "As the two largest carbon emitters, we have both determined that it is
   our responsibility to take action," Obama said. "Our leadership on this
   issue has been vital."

   Obama will also hold separate talks Monday with India's Prime Minister
   Narendra Modi.  Together, the U.S., China and India account for about
   half of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat
   in the atmosphere and that scientists have identified as a leading
   cause of the rising global temperatures.

   French President Francois Hollande has warned of obstacles for the
   195-nation summit in reaching a compulsory deal in Paris, including the
   legality of any accord, financing for poorer countries and monitoring
   of countries' pledges to limit greenhouse gas emissions. So far this
   year, 183 nations have issued long-term plans to cope with climate
   change, but difficult negotiations are expected at the summit and
   related international meetings that run through December 11.

   An attempt in Copenhagen in 2009 to craft a global deal foundered at an
   ill-tempered summit, with divisions between rich and poor countries.

   Ahead of the summit in Paris, hundreds of thousands of protesters
   joined worldwide demonstrations Sunday calling for adoption of global
   environmental controls.

   Activists linked hands in the heart of the French capital amid tight
   security in the wake of the deadly Islamic State terrorist attacks
   earlier this month that killed 130 people. Peaceful protests turned
   violent with police firing tear gas at some demonstrators. More than
   200 protestors were detained.

   ''

   With French officials banning marches, demonstrators, including U.N.
   Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left about 20,000 pairs of shoes on the
   ground at the Place de la Republique. Demonstration organizers said the
   shoes weighed four tons and included a pair the Vatican sent on behalf
   of Pope Francis.

   France says about 2,800 police and soldiers are securing the Le Bourget
   conference site, and 6,300 others will deploy in Paris. French Interior
   Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said nearly 1,000 people believed to pose
   security risks have been denied entry into France.
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   ding-climate-change-action/3080216.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/world-leaders-open-summit-seeking-binding-climate-change-action/3080216.html