The COP21 begins with the conviction to achieve the long-awaited climate agreement

By: Agostina Herrera @agoshb (Argentina) y Jhoanna Cifuentes @jhoabastet (Colombia)*

With a plenary meeting involving more than 150 heads of state and government, chaired by the President of France, Francois Hollande, the General Secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon and the President of the COP21 Laurent Fabius, this great event was formally launched which seeks to establish a global agreement to tackle climate change and avoid exceeding the limit of 2 degrees temperature increase which will affect the ecological balance of the planet, bringing catastrophic consequences for humanity

What is it about?

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change in this 21st edition is seen as one of the most important in recent times because there is a widespread urge to join efforts to respond effectively to the challenges of climate change, whose consequences are increasingly severe.

The COP21 will be happening between November 30^th and December 11^th at the Exhibition Park in Le Bourget (Paris) and is expected to house more than 40,000 people including Heads of State, government representatives, civil society, NGOs, Newspapers and companies. They will be able to access multiple meetings and plenary sessions where various topics will be discussed such as: Forests, Adaptation, Health, Climate Finance and many others. In addition there will be meetings of the different negotiating blocs including the European Union, the African Group and the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC).

Looking for an ambitious and binding deal!

The president of France who opened the conference, identified three conditions for the success of the cop21: believe there exists a way to not exceed a 2°C temperature increase on the planet, to provide a supportive response, understanding that no country should act alone in this commitment, and finally understand that this transformation is a moral obligation and a global opportunity. "We are here to take care of the entire planet, there are millions of victims and no country or region is exempt from the disasters of climate change and therefore we need to talk about climate justice" Hollande said in his speech.

For his part, the General Secretary of the United Nations, began his speech by making a parallel with the recent terrorist attacks, recognizing the presence of the leaders of many countries in spite of what happened and extending condolences to the Parisians. Ban Ki-Moon said: "The agreement should preserve the balance between developed and developing countries", also expressing the need for an agreement as quickly as possible with a view towards a world with fewer emissions.

Laurent Fabius also stressed that climate change effects need a commitment from all and emphasized the importance of a common interest to achieve the success of the COP21. He said that delegates have a great challenge and although the decision to come here is crucial, responsibility is not only governmental, but that solidarity should come from everyone. He further stated "Let us make the Paris Climate Conference the historic success the world is waiting for."

Other recognized leaders expressed their opinion and position on the matter, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said "The agreement should be comprehensive and effective, but also equal". Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that a clear mechanism is needed to measure the goals regularly and said "We need to promote a decrease in toxic emissions considering other approaches, such as transport and energy. We have to play a leadership role, the damage to our climate is a responsibility, and Germany will participate in numerous research programs on renewable energy and will help countries with fewer resources."

Xi Jinping, China's president, said: "The Paris agreement should focus on reinforcing our actions beyond 2020. This agreement will help ensure that more resources are made available to fight global warming". Also, he said that China intended to pave the way for a new era of modernization that allows harmony between man and nature. “By 2030, we would have reduced emissions of greenhouse gases per unit of GDP." Jinping said.

Barack Obama, President of the United States, places greater emphasis on the terrorist attacks "We will stand together in solidarity. We want to greet the people of Paris, and insist that this conference will be held, we want to defy the terrorists and what better way to do it than saying we want a better world for our children. "

*Agencia Joven Internacional de Noticias.