World leaders in Paris for crucial UN climate summit

A key UN climate change summit that will be attended by nearly 150 world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicks off tomorrow under the shadow of the deadly Paris terror attack to try to craft a long-term deal to limit carbon emissions.

As Modi headed to the French capital setting the tone for the summit with his remark today that it is the responsibility of all to work against global warming, UN chief Ban Ki-moon underlined the need for a durable universal deal to address rising green house gas emissions. “...In the Summit, we will deliberate on crucial issues relating to environment & climate change,” Modi tweeted just before his departure from India.Modi also utilised his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to say that the whole world is “worried” about climate change. “There are discussions everywhere over it and concerns are being expressed.... The temperature of the Earth should not increase now. It is the responsibility and concern of all,” he said, as leaders started arriving here for the 12-day summit being held under the shadow of unprecedented security cover after the recent carnage here that killed 130 people.

Besides Modi, other leaders including US President Barack Obama, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin will attend tomorrow the official start of the UN conference, tasked with reaching the first truly universal climate pact. 

The Paris Climate Conference from November 30 to December 11 will, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 C.