Paris climate deal welcomed, but critics warn of challenges ahead

[webfact]

Paris climate deal welcomed, but critics warn of challenges ahead



PARIS: -- The reaction overall to the Paris climate deal has been positive, in particular from the summit delegates. They claim it heralds the beginning of a historic transformation of the world’s fossil fuel driven economy.

However, there have been some reservations over the timescales of targets set out in the landmark agreement.

One of the main questions being asked has been, has the first truly global climate deal gone far enough?

“I have mixed feelings,” explained the head of Greenpeace France, Jean-François Julliard.This agreement is a good starting point. There could have been no agreement, a total disaster. However, the long-term objectives are not clear enough. The aim is to be below 2 degrees and reach 1.5 degrees Celsius. It fails to deal with the issue of climate change. We haven’t saved the planet or humanity of climate change. It has set a new starting point with a new goal.”

The European Union’s climate and energy commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete, was satisfied with the accord but reminded delegates that the deal was the beginning of the real work:

“I have all the elements I need. It’s an agreement fit for purpose. Always things can be perfect, but perfection is very difficult to reach. But this agreement is fit for purpose and it is a big step from Kyoto.”

The final agreement to cut emissions starting in 2020 and signed by almost 200 countries is set to cause a shift in the allocation of resources.

According to one report from Barclays bank, the deal marks the beginning of huge investment in technology and renewable energy that could spark a new era in global economic growth.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-12-14

[Pimay1]

Chicken Little comes to mind.

[chuckd]

I like this bit from the OP, allegedly a statement made by the head of Greenpeace France.

"We haven’t saved the planet or humanity of climate change. It has set a new starting point with a new goal.”

I would add...and it all requires new government funding in an obscene amount.

[elgordo38]

I like this bit from the OP, allegedly a statement made by the head of Greenpeace France.

"We haven’t saved the planet or humanity of climate change. It has set a new starting point with a new goal.”

I would add...and it all requires new government funding in an obscene amount.

Yes definitely a 17 TRILLION dollar challenge. A lot of countries might be tempted to hand their retirees "paper IOU's" and float this deal with pension money. The old Wimpy story. It will be interesting to see what "creative" ideas governments will float to pay this huge sum of money. Politicians no longer warm the cockles of my heart with this fancy folderol. It makes me fulminate with fury to watch all this hollow cheering and back slapping. Until a baby step of action is taken in my view its just another vote for me photo-op. A bunch of hollowed out hacks.

[TimmyT]

"climate change" is a fake which was created by a certain groups of interest (left-liberal NGOs, "scientists" like Michael E. Mann, who was caught fabricating data during climategate and politicians like Al Gore) to control industrial development of developing nations, to gain funds for "green technologies" or "ecological research" and to blackmail big business.

before it was called "global warming" but modern climate data does not show warming trend. that's why ecology fear mongers decided to re-brand it as a "global climate change" to use every climate fluctuation or hurricane as evidence.

[RickBradford]

"We haven’t saved the planet or humanity of climate change. It has set a new starting point with a new goal.”

.. which all 40,000 of us will have to get together next year and pretend to achieve.

I remember a couple of years ago when it was estimated that pointless 'climate activities' worldwide p**sed away $1 billion per day. I guess it's much more than that now.

Climate change isn't the big problem; climate change activism is.

[chuckd]

It's all over for another year. The delegates are going home.