2nd LD: UN climate conference adopts declaration for action

The United Nations Marrakech climate conference on Thursday adopted a proclamation calling for the highest political commitment and solidarity in the fight against climate change, amid fears that the next U.S. administration may change U.S. policy in this regard.

"We call for the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority," said the proclamation adopted at the closing plenary session of the conference.

"We call for strong solidarity with those countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and underscore the need to support efforts aimed to enhance their adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability," read the document.

This brief proclamation was issued to "signal a shift towards a new era of implementation and action on climate and sustainable development."

The proclamation stressed that an "extraordinary" momentum on climate change generated worldwide this year is "irreversible" since "it is being driven not only by governments, but by science, business and global action of all types at all levels."

"Our task now is to rapidly build on that momentum, together, moving forward purposefully to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to foster adaptation efforts, thereby benefiting and supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals," it said.

The conference, which opened on Nov. 7 to pave the way for the implementation of the landmark Paris Agreement, has been overshadowed by the unexpected win of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.

During his campaign, Trump described the issue of climate change as a "hoax" and vowed to cancel various actions taken by the Obama administration, including the U.S. ratification of the Paris Agreement. Endit