President Obama said this week’s climate conference will be a show of solidarity with France following a wave of terrorist attacks in Paris earlier this month.
“I’m heading to Paris today to join nearly 200 countries for a global conference on climate change,” Obama said in a post on his official Facebook account Sunday.
“It’s an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our oldest ally, just two weeks removed from the barbaric attacks there, and reaffirm our commitment to protect our people and our way of life from terrorist threats,” he said.
“It’s also an opportunity for the world to stand as one and show that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children,” Obama added.
On Monday, Obama will take part in the United Nations’ 21st Conference of the Parties on climate change. Its goal is to reach a broad international agreement on how to lower greenhouse gas emissions, which many scientists say drive climate change.
In Paris, Obama said he hopes the gathering of more than 180 nations will “put in place a long-term framework for further emissions reductions — targets set by each nation, but transparent enough to be verified by other nations.”
“And we’ll work to mobilize support to help the most vulnerable countries expand clean energy and adapt to the effects of climate change we can no longer avoid,” Obama said.
