CLIMATE CHANGE-SUMMIT World's environment ministers gather for informal talks ahead of COP21

Record ID: 141770

  • Title: CLIMATE CHANGE-SUMMIT World's environment ministers gather for informal talks ahead of COP21
  • Date: 6th September 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 6, 2015) (REUTERS FOR AGENCY POOL) VARIOUS OF ENVIRONMENT AND FOREIGN MINISTERS POSING FOR PHOTO
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1LZWEY8FX2T8PM15B9E42HTCS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Environment world leaders took part in an informal climate change summit in Paris on Sunday (September 6) ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21.
    The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal told world leaders that a strong commitment to tackling climate change is needed as the effects of the phenomena will soon be reality.
    Fabius said that the commitments of the conference will be stronger than those made at the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference this year.
    "We don't need to wait for the United Nations report which is expected at the beginning of November, a few think tanks have already evaluated the impact of the contributions. They say that we would be heading to three degrees. It's of course beneath the warming of four and even five degrees which is the result of current trends but it's not yet the two degrees that we are aiming for. So we will, according to means, have to determine to increase our efforts," Fabius said.
    Pulgar Vidal said that his country is already under threat from climate change citing the El Nio Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a warming of Pacific sea-surface temperatures.
    Last month, the country warned its economic growth in Peru will suffer if the El Niño weather pattern shapes up to be the "extraordinary" event that many fear it could be later this year.
    In previous years, it brought torrential rain that triggered floods and landslides, ruined roads and caused ocean warming that wreaked havoc on fishing.
    "We are in a time in which we are facing the consequences of the climate change. We are in a time of threat," said Pulgar Vidal.
    "A country as in Peru is facing the new threat of the phenomena El Nino, and we are probably, we will suffer that consequences very soon. In no more than three months. And that can create a lot of problems and a lot of difficulties, mostly to the poor people. So we are in a time in which we should discuss solutions to avoid that kind of consequences," he added.
    The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, will seek to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate action will be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December.
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