PARIS, Dec. 5 (UPI) — Delegates from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change approved a draft agreement Saturday aimed at slowing global warming and reducing carbon emissions worldwide.
The 48-page document will now be used as a basis for further discussion beginning Monday to hammer out a comprehensive settlement, not an easy task with 195 countries involved in COP21 — the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties.
Despite the challenge ahead, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figuerescelebrated the draft, announcing on Twitter, “One more step in writing history.”
Earlier this week, leaders from around the world, including President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, kicked off the conference with the hopes a deal would be struck.
“I think we’re going to solve it,” Obama said. “I think the issue is just going to be the pace and how much damage is done before we are able to fully apply the brakes.”
