‘Governments have signalled an end to the fossil fuel era, committing for the first time to a universal agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change.
‘After 20 years of fraught meetings, including the past two weeks spent in an exhibition hall on the outskirts of Paris, negotiators from nearly 200 countries signed on to a legal agreement on Saturday evening that set ambitious goals to limit temperature rises and to hold governments to account for reaching those targets.
‘Government and business leaders said the agreement, which set a new goal to reach net zero emissions in the second half of the century, sent a powerful signal to global markets, hastening the transition away from fossil fuels and to a clean energy economy.’
- 200 nations sign finish to fossil fuel era »
- Turnbull lifts the ban on government finance for wind power »
- The real work starts now »
- The Paris agreement at a glance »
- The experts react »
- Climate justice and an end to fossil fuels »
What this means for Queensland
The ABC reports that the climate change agreement increases the focus on the already controversial proposed Adani mine in north Queensland. A Study by the Australia Insitute has warned that the Adani Carmichael Mine will generate more annual emissions than Bangladesh or New York City.