Obama: Climate summit a ‘powerful rebuke’ against ISIS

“What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists it will be when the world stands as one and shows that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children,” Obama said Tuesday during a joint White House appearance with Hollande.

Hollande said that although he never imagined the City of Lights playing host under such circumstances, he couldn’t imagine canceling the long-planned summit because of the Islamic State’s Nov. 13 attacks on the city.

“I think there cannot be a better symbol for response but to hold a conference in Paris where the attacks took place, where we [are taking] the right measures in terms of security, protections, as well as in defending our values,” Hollande said, noting that 150 world leaders are expected to attend.

Participants are hoping to reach a global agreement on curbing greenhouse gases but also to elevate tolerance and diversity, Hollande said.

“But they are also coming to express their support to freedom, to the fight against extremism, that radical Islam, which is becoming dangerous,” Hollande said. “Yes, all of them are coming no matter their background, no matter their religion, their convictions, to express the same principles, the same values, with the same words, life. Yes, simply life.”

He praised Obama for taking the first big step toward making a major international agreement possible.

“I’m so pleased that President Obama will allow us to succeed,” he said. “I commend the commitment he’s made in the name of the United States, as well as in the name of the world. It was very important that one of the most powerful countries in the world, if not the most powerful, and therefore with the highest level of emissions, could also be there to face the future like we have been facing history.”

“What we will be doing early next week in Paris means that we can continue to live” and protect the planet for future generations, he said.