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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Record turnout at UN boosts climate deal | Record turnout at UN boosts climate deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Amid hope and hype, delegates have started the process of signing the Paris climate agreement at UN headquarters in New York. | Amid hope and hype, delegates have started the process of signing the Paris climate agreement at UN headquarters in New York. |
| Around 170 countries are expected to ink the deal today, a record number for a new international treaty. | Around 170 countries are expected to ink the deal today, a record number for a new international treaty. |
| Ten nations, mainly small island states, have already ratified the agreement. | Ten nations, mainly small island states, have already ratified the agreement. |
| But dozens of other countries will need to take this second step before the pact comes into force. | But dozens of other countries will need to take this second step before the pact comes into force. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Paris will shape the lives of all future generations a profound way - it is their future that is at stake." | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Paris will shape the lives of all future generations a profound way - it is their future that is at stake." |
| Speaking at the opening ceremony, he said the planet was experiencing record temperatures: "We are in a race against time I urge all countries to join the agreement at the national level." | Speaking at the opening ceremony, he said the planet was experiencing record temperatures: "We are in a race against time I urge all countries to join the agreement at the national level." |
| "Today we are signing a new covenant for the future." | "Today we are signing a new covenant for the future." |
| As the world marked the 46th Earth Day, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres explained what now needed to happened. | As the world marked the 46th Earth Day, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres explained what now needed to happened. |
| "Most countries, though not all, need to take the signed document and go back home and go to ratification procedures that in most countries requires parliamentary discussion and decision." | "Most countries, though not all, need to take the signed document and go back home and go to ratification procedures that in most countries requires parliamentary discussion and decision." |
| "The US and China will come and sign and confirm from a formal point of view from the podium at the UN, that they will ratify and accede to the Paris agreement this year." | "The US and China will come and sign and confirm from a formal point of view from the podium at the UN, that they will ratify and accede to the Paris agreement this year." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| David Shukman, Science Editor | David Shukman, Science Editor |
| Only a few years ago the very idea of a global treaty to limit climate change seemed almost impossible. The ghosts of the failed Copenhagen summit in 2009 haunted the negotiations. | Only a few years ago the very idea of a global treaty to limit climate change seemed almost impossible. The ghosts of the failed Copenhagen summit in 2009 haunted the negotiations. |
| Now, in a total transformation in morale, almost all of the world's governments are here in New York to support the new Paris Agreement. The sheer scale of the turnout is seen as a signal of political determination. The atmosphere is positive, up to a point. Tough challenges lie ahead. | Now, in a total transformation in morale, almost all of the world's governments are here in New York to support the new Paris Agreement. The sheer scale of the turnout is seen as a signal of political determination. The atmosphere is positive, up to a point. Tough challenges lie ahead. |
| One is the task of ratification, another the continuing arguments over cash, a third the basic fact that the deal was only made possible because each country's actions are entirely voluntary. And then there's the awkward truth that, amid the celebrations, all eyes are transfixed by events beyond the UN buildings. | One is the task of ratification, another the continuing arguments over cash, a third the basic fact that the deal was only made possible because each country's actions are entirely voluntary. And then there's the awkward truth that, amid the celebrations, all eyes are transfixed by events beyond the UN buildings. |
| Mention of the name Trump triggers nervous laughter. A Republican victory would presumably lead to America's withdrawal from the agreement. And that would risk undermining the entire process. | Mention of the name Trump triggers nervous laughter. A Republican victory would presumably lead to America's withdrawal from the agreement. And that would risk undermining the entire process. |
| France's president Francois Hollande said the agreement in Paris was an "emotional moment, rare in the lives of politicians and leaders". | France's president Francois Hollande said the agreement in Paris was an "emotional moment, rare in the lives of politicians and leaders". |
| He added: "We need to go further than the pledges made there." | He added: "We need to go further than the pledges made there." |
| Even though the US and China represent around 38% of global emissions, getting to the 55% figure will not be that easy. | Even though the US and China represent around 38% of global emissions, getting to the 55% figure will not be that easy. |
| The European Union, which represents just under 10% of global CO2, will take a considerable amount of time as each of the 28 members has to ratify it themselves. | The European Union, which represents just under 10% of global CO2, will take a considerable amount of time as each of the 28 members has to ratify it themselves. |
| That is unlikely to begin until the EU can agree how much of the carbon cutting each country will have to undertake. | That is unlikely to begin until the EU can agree how much of the carbon cutting each country will have to undertake. |
| Small island states were upset with this approach. | Small island states were upset with this approach. |
| "That exercise is going to take too long, we should all join together and tell our friends in the EU they must move along more quickly than that," said the Marshall Islands Ambassador for climate change, Tony De Brum. | "That exercise is going to take too long, we should all join together and tell our friends in the EU they must move along more quickly than that," said the Marshall Islands Ambassador for climate change, Tony De Brum. |
| "We did not expect that kind of distance in the process of ratification and approval." | "We did not expect that kind of distance in the process of ratification and approval." |
| President Obama is also keen to see the new agreement take effect before he leaves office next January. A little known clause in the treaty means it would take four years if a new leader, less committed to climate action, wanted to take the US out of the agreement. | President Obama is also keen to see the new agreement take effect before he leaves office next January. A little known clause in the treaty means it would take four years if a new leader, less committed to climate action, wanted to take the US out of the agreement. |
| Other countries are also aware of this and are watching the US election process very closely. | Other countries are also aware of this and are watching the US election process very closely. |
| "We don't know who the next President will be and what stand the new administration will take," India's environment minister Prakash Javadekar told BBC News. | "We don't know who the next President will be and what stand the new administration will take," India's environment minister Prakash Javadekar told BBC News. |
| "What happens in the US will have a definite bearing how the world takes all these ideas and commitments and pledges in effect. So people are eagerly awaiting what happens in the US." | "What happens in the US will have a definite bearing how the world takes all these ideas and commitments and pledges in effect. So people are eagerly awaiting what happens in the US." |
| China said it would 'finalise domestic procedures" to ratify the Paris Agreement before the G20 summit in China in September. | |
| There is obvious delight here in New York at the record turnout of countries and leaders to sign the agreement. But some attendees are cautioning that this is merely the first rung on a very difficult ladder. | There is obvious delight here in New York at the record turnout of countries and leaders to sign the agreement. But some attendees are cautioning that this is merely the first rung on a very difficult ladder. |
| If action to cut emissions isn't ramped up quickly, and the world warms by significantly more than 2C, there would be consequences. | If action to cut emissions isn't ramped up quickly, and the world warms by significantly more than 2C, there would be consequences. |
| "If you have seen Syrian refugees, get ready to see climate refugees - it will be worse," said Tosi Mpan-Mpanu from the DRC, the chairman of the Least Developed Countries group in the UN talks. | "If you have seen Syrian refugees, get ready to see climate refugees - it will be worse," said Tosi Mpan-Mpanu from the DRC, the chairman of the Least Developed Countries group in the UN talks. |
| "If people have had decades of gaining assets and livelihoods which are completely depleted in season's dry weather - what do they have left?" | "If people have had decades of gaining assets and livelihoods which are completely depleted in season's dry weather - what do they have left?" |
| "It is an open door to Boko Haram, it is an open door to Daesh, because people will be just desperate," he told BBC News. | "It is an open door to Boko Haram, it is an open door to Daesh, because people will be just desperate," he told BBC News. |
| Follow Matt on Twitter and on Facebook. | Follow Matt on Twitter and on Facebook. |