Obama Commends Climate Change Accord
President Obama said the historic agreement is a tribute to American climate change leadership.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS on Publish Date December 12, 2015. Photo by Doug Mills/The New York Times.Before Reading ‘Nations Approve Landmark Climate Accord in Paris’:
- Watch the video “Obama Commends Climate Change Accord.”
- What do you know about United States environmental policy regarding climate change that was in place before the conference in Paris? What do you know about the environmental policies of other nations?
After Reading
Read the entire article and answer the questions, supporting your responses by citing evidence from the text.
1. What makes the agreement reached by 195 nations regarding climate change historic?
2. How long had United Nations diplomats been working on the accord?
3. What do scientists who have analyzed the deal believe the best possible results will be?
4. How might global financial and energy markets be affected?
5. What, according to the article, are two factors that are outside the parameters of the deal that will determine whether it is successful?
Going Further
Read the related interactive “Inside the Paris Climate Deal,” which highlights key elements in the Paris Climate Agreement and presents science writers’ reactions to them. One excerpt and reaction reads:
BEARING THE COST
“As part of a global effort, developed country Parties should continue to take the lead in mobilizing climate finance from a wide variety of sources, instruments and channels, noting the significant role of public funds, through a variety of actions, including supporting country-driven strategies, and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing country Parties. Such mobilization of climate finance should represent a progression beyond previous efforts.”MELISSA EDDY, BERLIN CORRESPONDENT:
Many developing and smaller countries are disappointed that the agreement does not name a specific number – a goal of at least $100 billion a year in contributions from rich countries is mentioned only in the preamble, which is not legally binding. Developing nations maintain that even that sum would not be enough to help them build up a power system quickly or cheaply enough based on renewable energy sources rather than coal and oil.
What do you think of the stance taken by many developing and smaller countries that the agreement should bind larger, richer countries to making a prescribed contribution? How do you think this part of the agreement should read, or would you leave it as it is? Explain.
Related
News Q’s | Short Answers to Hard Questions About Climate Change
Resources | Teaching About Climate Change With The New York Times