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COP21: World awaits landmark climate deal COP21: World awaits landmark climate deal
(about 1 hour later)
Organisers of climate talks in Paris have released details of a proposed landmark deal to curb climate change.Organisers of climate talks in Paris have released details of a proposed landmark deal to curb climate change.
France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the final draft of the deal was fair, and that its aim was to limit warming to "well below 2C". France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the final draft of the agreement aimed to limit warming to "well below 2C".
The final draft agreement has been presented to international delegates in Paris after two weeks of talks. The final document has been presented to international delegates in Paris after two weeks of talks.
If endorsed, the global climate pact would represent "a historic turning point", said Mr Fabius.If endorsed, the global climate pact would represent "a historic turning point", said Mr Fabius.
"It confirms our key objective, the objective which is vital, that of continuing to have a mean temperature well below two degrees and to endeavour to limit that increase to one point five degrees," he told countries.
French President Francois Hollande, who joined the meeting on Saturday, called the proposal unprecedented.French President Francois Hollande, who joined the meeting on Saturday, called the proposal unprecedented.
COP 21 Live: Follow events in ParisCOP 21 Live: Follow events in Paris
"The decisive agreement for the planet is here and now,'' Mr Hollande said. "France calls upon you to adopt the first universal agreement on climate.'' "The decisive agreement for the planet is here and now,'' Mr Hollande told countries. "France calls upon you to adopt the first universal agreement on climate.''
And UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on world diplomats to "finish the job".And UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on world diplomats to "finish the job".
"We must protect the planet that sustains us,'' he said. "We need all our hands on deck.''"We must protect the planet that sustains us,'' he said. "We need all our hands on deck.''
Positions 'narrowed'Positions 'narrowed'
Nearly 200 countries are attempting to strike the first climate deal to commit all countries to cut emissions, which would come into being in 2020.Nearly 200 countries are attempting to strike the first climate deal to commit all countries to cut emissions, which would come into being in 2020.
Ministers will now decide whether or not to approve the agreement when discussions resume at 14:45 GMT (15:45 CET). Ministers will now decide whether or not to approve the agreement when discussions resume this afternoon.
The Paris text proposes the following: The following measures are proposed:
• To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century• To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century
• To keep global temperature increase well below 2C (3.6F) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C• To keep global temperature increase well below 2C (3.6F) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C
• To review progress every five years• To review progress every five years
• $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.• $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.
At the scene: BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath in ParisAt the scene: BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath in Paris
According to Laurent Fabius, the draft agreement will call for a temperature target which is "well below" 2C, which will please small island nations. Small island states will be pleased that the draft agreement suggests that global temperatures should be kept well below 2C and the best efforts of the world should be made to keep those temperatures below 1.5C. The way the world will achieve these aims is a little more unclear.
But crucially we don't yet know if the language on how the world keeps the temperature rises down has been strengthened. Many Gulf states were keen to see only woolly references to a fossil free future. The issue of transparency became a major sticking point between the US and China and the new text is a carefully balanced compromise between the desire of the Americans to have a single system that allows international oversight and inspection and the Chinese demand that developing countries should not have to face the same level of scrutiny straight away.
The issue of transparency became a major sticking point between the US and China. Laurent Fabius told the meeting that the rich would provide finance worth $100bn a year from 2020, and that this figure would be a "floor" although the figure itself is in the decision text and not in the agreement.
We will have to see the wording in the document, but sources say a compromise has been reached along the lines that a new system would apply to all countries but the system itself will remain "unspecified" for now. Developing nations and many campaigners will be pleased to see a section on loss and damage, although that text specifically removes the question of compensation for countries hit by climate-related weather events.
Laurent Fabius told the meeting that the rich would provide finance worth $100bn a year from 2020, and that this figure would be a "floor". Hopes are running high for the historic deal but countries could still raise objections.
Developing countries are said to be happy with provisions in this text about the predictability of finance. This has been one of their main gripes in this process. The UN summit has gone over time as countries try to overcome divisions over ambition, money and trust.
Of particular interest is the review mechanism - the method by which the commitments of countries will be assessed against the temperature targets in the future.
Countries will review their existing commitments before they come into force in 2020, and there will be a review in 2023 and new commitments in 2025, and every five years from there on.
Hopes are high for the historic deal but countries could still raise objections.
The UN summit has run over time as countries try to overcome divisions over ambition, money and trust.
The spokesman of the UN climate body behind the meeting said positions had "narrowed enormously" ahead of the presentation of the final climate deal draft.The spokesman of the UN climate body behind the meeting said positions had "narrowed enormously" ahead of the presentation of the final climate deal draft.
'Vague promise' 'Strong message'
WWF-UK chief executive David Nussbaum said there were indications of a clear vision in the strong long-term goal.WWF-UK chief executive David Nussbaum said there were indications of a clear vision in the strong long-term goal.
"The Paris deal is not just about reducing emissions, but also about protecting vulnerable places and people," he said."The Paris deal is not just about reducing emissions, but also about protecting vulnerable places and people," he said.
But Oxfam said the deal is set to short-change the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.But Oxfam said the deal is set to short-change the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
Executive Director Helen Szoke said: "Only the vague promise of a new future climate funding target has been made, while the deal does not force countries to cut emissions fast enough to forestall a climate change catastrophe."Executive Director Helen Szoke said: "Only the vague promise of a new future climate funding target has been made, while the deal does not force countries to cut emissions fast enough to forestall a climate change catastrophe."
Prof Corinne Le Quere of the University of East Anglia and director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said while the text recognised the imperatives of the science community to tackle climate change there was still a lot of work ahead to make it happen.
"The emissions cuts promised by countries now are still wholly insufficient, but the agreement as a whole sends a strong message to businesses, investors and citizens that new energy is clean and fossil fuels belong to the past."
The last hours of the talks culminate a four-year drive to produce the first international pact asking all countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.The last hours of the talks culminate a four-year drive to produce the first international pact asking all countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.
Countries will meet later on Saturday to decide whether or not to adopt the agreement.Countries will meet later on Saturday to decide whether or not to adopt the agreement.
UN climate conference 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015UN climate conference 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015
COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - will see more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - will see more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities.
Explained: What is climate change?Explained: What is climate change?
In video: Why does the Paris conference matter?In video: Why does the Paris conference matter?
Analysis: Latest from BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrathAnalysis: Latest from BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath
In graphics: Climate change in six chartsIn graphics: Climate change in six charts
More: BBC News special report (or follow the COP21 tag in the BBC News app)More: BBC News special report (or follow the COP21 tag in the BBC News app)