Leaders and representatives from more than 150 countries are gathering at the United Nations COP21 climate summit this week in Paris with hopes to finalize a deal by 11 December. Against a backdrop of heightened security measures in the aftermath of the 13 November terror attacks on Paris, government leaders including US President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping, came together to emphasize the need for coordinated international action to combat climate change.

The momentum and sense of optimism was tangible from the onset at COP21, not least because this time, countries like the US and China, the world’s biggest emitters, appear much more willing to sign up for a coordinated solution to tackle global warming. Talks have covered many areas, from agriculture, aviation, to the energy sector. (CONTINUED - 1149 WORDS)