Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21)

As we all know, global warming is a major issue that our entire world is faced with. Global warming happens naturally, but the carbon emissions caused by human activities are making temperatures increase at an unusually high rate. The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, with 195 political leaders from 150 different countries, meet and focus mainly on limiting carbon emissions. This conference is called COP21, estimated to last around two weeks, and so far it has achieved some favorable results.
The United States promised that, by 2025, the United States will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by twenty-eight per cent compared to 2005. The European Union says that, by 2030, it will cut emissions by forty per cent compared to the 1990 level… The list goes on and on. Nevertheless, our climate problems are so severe that even if all countries hold to their promises, it is not enough. “We are not moving fast enough,” Governor Jerry Brown of California, who is helping to lead the effort, said in an interview. “We’ve got to do more.”

Until recently, the consensus was that after 30 years or so burning more carbon would cause dangerous rises in temperatures. Now, however, some experts are suggesting that that point could come earlier, in fifteen to twenty years. This conference is a great start to solving climate change problems, but we need to take action. Using the words of French President Francois Hollande, “Never have the stakes been so high because this is about the future of the planet, the future of life.”

Other notable quotes during the conference:
“The eyes of the world are upon and there are great hopes, it is therefore for us to meet our responsibilities head on so that on 11 December we can say the world the four words the world is waiting to hear: our mission is accomplished.”

Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister and president of COP21,

The whole of nature cries out at our mistreatment of her…If the planet were a patient, we would have treated her long ago. You, ladies and gentlemen, have the power to put her on life support, and you must surely start the emergency procedures without further procrastination!”
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales

“Billions of people pinning their hopes on what we do in Paris. Let us do everything we can not to dash these hopes”
-German Chanellor Angela Merkel

“What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than marshaling our best efforts to save it”
-President Barack Obama