Nations strike global climate change agreement in Paris

Contact: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org

Washington (December 14, 2015) – After two weeks of negotiations, the 21^st Conference of Parties of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) has produced a massive new agreement to combat global climate change, signed by nearly every nation in the world. The Paris Agreement includes funding for green technology; financial assistance for developing countries to convert to sustainable energy; and a new climate change benchmark: a goal of limiting future increases to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

The following is a statement from Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife:

“This is a historic agreement and a huge improvement over past attempts at an international climate treaty. Combating global warming and its effects is a difficult and complex challenge, but the Paris Agreement shows how far the world has come in accepting climate science and committing to the fight to save our planet.

“While there was little mention of biodiversity at COP21, make no mistake: the Paris Agreement is a major step forward for the protection of imperiled wildlife and habitat around the world. In every region there are species already fighting to survive global warming–from coral reefs to Sonoran pronghorn to polar bears. Climate change is affecting people, communities and wildlife right now, and we need to do everything we can to limit its effects.

“Now the real work begins: action must follow words to fight climate change and secure a brighter future for the planet. All nations need to individually commit to the global promise in Paris, and work together to make the promise real.”

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.