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Ian Langsdon, Pool via AP
World News

Church of England backs Paris COP21 climate deal

by Aaron James

It's speaking after ministers from more than 190 countries formally agreed on the legally-binding deal on climate change.

The pact, which has been described as "ambitious", resolves to keep global warming below two degrees celsius, and aims to keep it below 1.5 degrees.

If the target is met, it is hoped the worst effects of climate change, such as sea levels rising to the point where whole pieces of land are overtaken, can be averted.

The Paris COP21 climate change conference overran its two-week deadline, with countries talking long into the night on Friday in an attempt to strike a deal.

The formal announcement on Saturday that the countries in attendance had agreed to the deal was met with warm applause from delegates and activists around the world.

Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, the Bishop of Salisbury and the Church of England's lead spokesman on the environment, said: "It is good to have an ambitious agreement about the aspiration.

"What matters now is that governments actually deliver a low carbon future - the transparency of accountability and process of review will be what ensures that happens.

"This looks like real progress - there is now a much more positive spirit about what now needs to happen than after Copenhagen six years ago, but we are still at an early stage on the journey."

Christian Aid has also welcomed the COP21 deal. Mohamed Adow, it's Senior Climate Advisor, said: "For the first time in history the whole world has made a public commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the impacts of climate change.

"Governments, investors and businesses must ride this wave or be swept away by it. The era of politicians burying their heads in the sand is over.

"This deal must echo through boardrooms and stock-exchanges around the world - the era of dirty investments is over. The profitable, forward-looking business opportunities of the future lie in clean investment.

"Crucially the Paris Accord has not left poor countries behind. Richer countries have committed to deliver the finance they promised to help developing countries adapt and grow in a clean and sustainable way.

"For the first time in an international treaty clear consideration has also been given to loss and damage - support for countries facing climate change so severe it can't be adapted to."

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