Cybersecurity
Global Climate Accord Closer to Reality as Obama, Xi Sign On
- World’s two biggest polluters join in sign of acceptance
- Paris agreement coming together much faster than expected
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U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping formally the Paris climate agreement, and with the world’s two largest emitters of carbon pollution now on board the deal among more than 190 countries may enter into force this year.
The submission to the United Nations solidifies one of Obama’s most ambitious efforts to combat climate change by persuading China to join efforts to curb pollution. The pact is aimed at limiting global temperature increases from pre-industrial levels to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius. Obama began his week-long trip to Asia with a ceremony hailing the accord, seeking to set the tone for his final presidential visit to a region where he has struggled to re-focus U.S. foreign policy.