The 195 states represented in Paris have agreed on a new climate agreement. "Paris will always be linked with this historic watershed in global climate policy," declared the Chancellor, praising the outcome of negotiations.
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UN Climate Change Conference comes to a successful conclusion: new agreement signed in Paris on Saturday
Photo: picture alliance / AP Photo
At the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, 195 states adopted a new agreement to combat global warming on Saturday evening. "The agreement is adopted," declared conference president, Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Affairs Minister, as the delegates applauded. For the first time ever, this agreement commits all countries to take climate action. It will come into effect in 2020.
"Under the provisions of the climate agreement adopted here today, the entire international community has, for the first time, undertaken to act – to act to fight global climate change," said Chancellor Angela Merkel, welcoming the outcome of the 14-day negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference. Although "we have a lot of work ahead of us" the successful conclusion of the conference is "a sign of hope that we will manage to protect the living conditions of billions of people in future too".
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks declared the agreement as a historic success for climate change mitigation. "Today all of us here have together made history. Billions of people have waited for a long time for the global community to take action. Today I can say – things are moving at last." For the first time ever, all countries have affirmed their commitment to climate action and to addressing climate change. All states have accepted the need to limit global warming, said Barbara Hendricks immediately after the conference.
The agreement bridges the out-dated dichotomy between industrialised and developing nations. "Over the last few days we have seen how a new coalition of the ambitious has formed, with poor and rich, large and small states. We will build on this in our efforts to achieve ambitious climate protection and worldwide solidarity," said the Federal Environment Minister.