Portugal on board with Paris COP21 climate agreement

Portugal’s government is satisfied with the Paris deal on climate change that calls on everyone to reduce damaging emmissions.

The Secretary of State for Environment said today that the document calls on all countries to contribute in a legally binding manner.

"The Paris agreement is considered a success and the European Union also is pleased with the results," said Carlos Martins who was in the French capital to monitor the UN conference on climate (COP21) that resulted in agreements to reduce greenhouse gases and to fund changes.

Martins said there is now "demanding work ahead, the goals are ambitious," but everyone is aware that it is really necessary to achieve the objectives "because this is what the future of humanity depends on."

On 12 December 2015 the participating 196 countries agreed by consensus to the final draft of a global pact to reduce emissions as part of the method for reducing greenhouse gas.

In the 12-page Paris Agreement, the members agreed to reduce their carbon output "as soon as possible" and to do their best to keep global warming "to well below 2 degrees C".

France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said this "ambitious and balanced" plan was a "historic turning point" in the goal of reducing global warming.

The Agreement enters into force and will become legally binding on its member states after 55 parties who between them produce over 55% of the world's greenhouse gas become party to the Agreement. There is doubt whether some, like the U.S., will agree to do so.

Speaking after the COP-21 summit on climate change in Paris pledged to limit global warming below the threshold of 2°c, Pope Francis said the plan will require "a concerted and generous commitment" from everyone.

Experts said a move towards renewable power, with investment in wind and solar energy, will be required to cut down on emissions.

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