Summary

  • A two-week UN summit in Paris has agreed the first climate deal to commit all countries to cut emissions

  • The international agreement was gavelled through by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to claps and cheers

  • More than 190 countries had been working on the pact for four years after earlier attempts to reach such a deal failed

  • Negotiations ran into the small hours for three consecutive nights in order to hammer out the final draft

  1. Leaders' speeches delayed by half an hour 'at least'published at 11:16

    Various delays have meant that the photo call preceding this afternoon's speeches is still underway.

    The speeches are expected to be delayed by at least half an hour - commencing at 12:30 CET (11:30 GMT) or later.

    Ban Ki-moon at the podiumImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressing the conference earlier

  2. Climate change and island nations - your questionspublished at 11:04

    The BBC's Kate Benyon-Tinker and Matthew Price are on the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, parts of which were devastated by Cyclone Pam in March.

    Scientists say rising sea levels are making island nations such as Vanuatu more vulnerable to storms and tropical cyclones.

    You can put your own questions to Matthew and Kate here, ahead of a live webcast on this page tomorrow.

  3. Send us your commentspublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2015

    Email; talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk

    Terence Galland, Coventry:

    As nothing ever seems to happen, are they discussing climate change or talking about the flat earth, or what they’re doing at Christmas???

  4. Number of arrests in Paris on Sunday climbs to 317published at 10:58

    French police now say that 317 people were detained following clashes in Paris yesterday.

    The violence was condemned by President Hollande, as well as the organisers of peaceful demonstrations in Paris and around the world.  

    Protests are banned in the French capital under emergency measures introduced in the wake of the terror attacks. Installations such as the 'marching shoes, external' have taken their place.

    protesters and tear gasImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Some protesters clashed with riot police on Sunday

    Policemen and dogs at the conference centreImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    The police presence is noticeable at the conference in Le Bourget today

  5. Add to the debatepublished at 10:41

    Email: talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk

    Frank Manthey, Ipswich, Australia

    I strongly believe all governments worldwide must be honest to the people. In order for climate change to be effective around the world, a large number of people must have a lifestyle change.

    Do we need two cars, five TV sets? There are too many other things to list.

  6. Hollande: 'We will decide on the very future of the planet'published at 10:34

    French president Francois Hollande once again does not shy away from grand rhetoric on the risks of climate change.

    Quote Message

    Good wishes and declarations of intent will not be enough. We are on the brink of a breaking point; Paris must be the start of a far reaching change.

    Francois Hollande

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  7. 150 speeches, one afternoonpublished at 10:31

    Speeches from all 147 of the country leaders in attendance will begin at 12:00 CET (11:00 GMT).

    Each will address the summit for just three minutes - with President Obama third to speak.

    You will be able to watch them live on this page via the live coverage tab above.

    President Hollande welcomes President ObamaImage source, EPA
  8. Hollande addresses summitpublished at 10:23

    The opening ceremony has concluded and the meeting is now getting fully underway with a speech from French president Francois Hollande.

    You can watch using the "Live Coverage" tab above.

  9. Obama and Xi meet on fringes of climate summitpublished at 10:19

    US President Barack Obama's first priority today was speaking to the president of China, Xi Jinping.

    Mr Obama said that nowhere had coordination with Beijing been more critical or fruitful than on climate change, crediting US and Chinese leadership for the fact that 180 nations had made their own pledges to curb emissions in the run-up to the Paris talks.

    Barack Obama and Xi JinpingImage source, AP
    Quote Message

    The world economy is recovering slowly, terrorism is on the rise, and climate change is a huge challenge. There is more instability and uncertainty in international situations

    Xi Jinping, President of China

  10. Climate change: Why should you care, and what can you do?published at 10:02

    In the latest of our espresso guides to climate change, environment correspondent Matt McGrath explains how the phenomenon is going to affect everyone.

    Media caption,

    The espresso guide to climate change: Episode 1

    Look for more multimedia guides in the 'Key Video' tab above.

    And for a more in depth look at what's at stake in Paris, here's Matt's comprehensive beginners guide to the summit:

  11. Prince Charles calls for 'road to saner future'published at 09:53

    Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony, the Prince of Wales said that climate change was the greatest threat facing humanity and that an agreement in Paris would "set us on the road to a saner future".

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  12. China issues highest smog warning so far this yearpublished at 09:50

    As world leaders gather in Paris to address climate change, authorities in the Chinese capital Beijing have issued their highest smog warning so far this year.

    Beijing residents donned masks as they made their way into work on Monday morning amid heavy pollution. 

    Full story: Chinese authorities boost smog alert level in Beijing

    China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, although per person its emissions are lower than other nations including the US. 

    In September, the Chinese government announced anationwide programmeto limit carbon emissions, to begin in 2017.

    A man wears a mask on a polluted day in Beijing on November 30, 2015.Image source, AFP
    A woman wearing a mask walks past in Beijing on November 30, 2015.Image source, AFP
    People talk behind a toll gate on a highway between Beijing and Hebei provinceImage source, Reuters
  13. Figueres outlines the scale of the task aheadpublished at 09:46

    Listening to the opening speeches, BBC science correspondent Rebecca Morelle tweets:

  14. Solidarity from UN climate chiefpublished at 09:42

    "We stand with Paris," said UN climate chief Christiana Figueres at the opening ceremony.

    Christiana Figueres greeting Barack ObamaImage source, AP
    Image caption,

    Christiana Figueres greets President Obama earlier

  15. Incoming president: 'No hidden agenda' at COP21published at 09:40

    The incoming president of the meeting, French foreign secretary Laurent Fabius, said one of his guiding principles over the next 11 days was transparency.

    Quote Message

    No hidden agenda no secret plan, no text in our pockets.

    Laurent Fabius, President of COP21

  16. Action 'the only way' to tackle both climate change and terrorismpublished at 09:17

    Strong action on carbon emissions is essential for multiple reasons, says Manuel Pulgar Vidal, chair of last year's COP20 conference in Lima.

    Quote Message

    It is the only way to face the climate change threat, but also the terrorism threat

    Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Chair of the previous UN climate summit (COP20) in Lima, 2014

    Manuel Pulgar Vidal at the podiumImage source, UNFCCC
  17. 40,000 attendees including more than 3,000 journalistspublished at 09:15

    Those are the approximate figures expected here at Le Bourget, about 10 miles (15km) north of central Paris.

    BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath is among them...

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  18. Conference formally declared openpublished at 09:07

    Manuel Pulgar Vidal, chair of last year's conference (COP20) in Lima, Peru, has opened proceedings in Paris.

  19. Paris attacks 'will help climate talks'published at 09:04

    The terror attacks in Paris will increase the likelihood of reaching a deal at climate talks in the city, according to one of the UK's most senior environmental advisers.

    Tom Burke, chairman of environmental think tank E3G, said political leaders will have been fully briefed about the links between climate change, refugees and terrorism - and that was more likely to lead to an agreement between major nations.

    Watch the full interview below.

    Media caption,

    COP21: Paris attacks 'will help climate talks'

  20. World Bank chief describes dangers of 2C warmingpublished at 08:52

    Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, from Paris, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim painted a bleak picture of a world that warms by 2C.

    According to the UK's Met Office, we're already halfway to that scenario.

    Quote Message

    Even at 2 degrees, we've shown that some 40% of the land in sub-Saharan Africa that’s growing maize will no longer be able to do so, fights over water will be extreme, coral reefs will be wiped out, the fisheries will be fundamentally changed. Even at 2C we're going to be living in a world where we have to spend a lot of time, energy and money adapting to very different conditions. We've got to move and we've got to move quickly.

    Jim Yong Kim, President, World Bank

    Jim Yong Kim in a makeshift radio studio