EU calls Paris climate conference "historic opportunity to avoid dangerous climate change"

The European Commission highlighted on Wednesday the crucial importance of reaching a fair, ambitious and legally binding global climate deal at the UN climate change conference in Paris from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Moreover, it said in a press release that the European Union (EU) would be working to achieve a comprehensive, durable and dynamic agreement that will accelerate the global shift to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies at the Paris climate conference.

It is widely acknowledged that the increase in the global average temperature needs to be held below 2 degrees above the pre-industrial levels in order to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

The EU hoped that the new agreement must send a clear signal of governments' resolve to reduce emissions sufficiently to keep temperature increase below the agreed limit by the end of the century.

Besides, the EU regarded ambitious action to prepare for and respond to the effects of climate change to be a central part of a balanced agreement, said the press release.

Both emissions reductions and adaptation would be essential to manage and reduce the risk of adverse impacts of climate change, including addressing the risk of loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change, added the press release.

The EU also remains committed to delivering its share towards achieving developed countries' joint goal of mobilizing 100 billion U.S. dollars per year by 2020 for climate action in developing countries, said the Commission, calling itself "the major contributor to this funding". Endit