Climate Deal - The "Paris agreement" (QUOTES)

"The 12th of December, 2015, will remain a great date for the planet ... In Paris, there have been many revolutions over the centuries. Today it is the most beautiful and the most peaceful revolution that has just been accomplished -- a revolution for climate change.''

French President Francois Hollande welcomed the world to a "low carbon age'' 



"It's a victory for all of the planet and for future generations ... the pact will prevent the worst most devastating consequences of climate change from ever happening.''

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry


"Today, we've proven that it's possible for every country to come together, hand in hand, to do its part to fight climate change.''

Brazilian Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira


"History will remember this day ... The Paris agreement on climate change is a monumental success for the planet and its people.''

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon


"We've agreed to what we ought to be doing, but no one yet has agreed to go do it ... It's a whole lot of pomp, given the circumstances.''

Dennis Clare, a negotiator for the Federated States of Micronesia.


"The agreement does not go far enough to cut global warming and help the poor countries affected by it."

Paul Oquist --- Nicaragua  envoy



"This puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong side of history'' 

Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace.

"Today the human race has joined in a common cause, but it's what happens after this conference that really matters ... This deal alone won't dig us out the hole we're in, but it makes the sides less steep.''

Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace.

"Some scientists who had criticized earlier drafts as unrealistic praised the final pact for including language that essentially means the world will have to all but stop polluting with greenhouse gases by 2070 to reach the 2-degree goal, or by 2050 to reach the 1.5-degree goal.

That's because when emissions fall, nature compensates by absorbing less carbon dioxide -- and can even release old pollution once there's less of it in the air ...Forests, oceans and soil currently absorb about half the world's man-made carbon dioxide emissions."

Princeton University's Michael Oppenheimer 


"It means that in the end, you have to phase out carbon dioxide ... In addition to the cuts in emissions, the goal could be reached in part by increasing how much carbon dioxide is sucked out of the air by planting forests or with futuristic technology ... such technology would be expensive."

John Schellnhuber, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.

"merely approving the agreement isn't enough ... The Canadian government must act to reduce fossil fuel emissions."

NDP leader Tom Mulcair and World Wildlife Fund Canada


Indeed, the federal government should establish a climate change plan quickly. Provincial commitments won't be enough to reduce emissions, but the agreement "[underscores] a powerful global transition away from high-carbon fossil fuels.

This agreement sends a clear signal to governments, businesses, and investors everywhere: the transformation of our global economy from one fueled by dirty energy to one fueled by sustainable economic growth is now firmly and inevitably underway.