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Poland successful at COP21, environment minister says

PR dla Zagranicy
Alicja Baczyńska 13.12.2015 13:08
"Poland may return from the climate summit with its head held up high," says Environment Minister Jan Szyszko.
An aerial view of a Greenpeace protest at the Place de L'Etoile during the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015, in Paris, France, 11 December 2015. Photo: PAP/EPA/GREENPEACE.An aerial view of a Greenpeace protest at the Place de L'Etoile during the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015, in Paris, France, 11 December 2015. Photo: PAP/EPA/GREENPEACE.

Global talks on tackling climate change concluded in a landmark deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions on Saturday.

After two weeks of negotiations, 195 countries set a long-term goal to keep the planet's average temperature below 2˚C and aid developing countries in adapting to the effects of global warming. A five-year review process keeping track of individual countries' targets will be put in place to make sure countries deliver on their pledges.

Polish Environment Minister Jan Szyszko points to a clause on protecting the world's forests, included in the COP deal, as "Poland's great contribution" to the final outcome of talks.

The minister said that economic growth may be reconciled with sustainable development, once a balance is struck between the carbon output and the absorption of emissions by forests and innovative technology.

The deputy head of Poland's COP21 delegation, Tomasz Chruszczow said the agreement does not rule out the use of coal − which accounts for 80 percent of Poland's energy production − by the end of the century but rather sets a framework for more sustainable development.

"It's the best agreement we could hope for," Chruszczow said.

Meanwhile, one of the world's pioneers of climate change awareness, climate scientist Professor James Hansen, says the global agreement is of no consequence without imposing taxes on fossil fuels, which he says is the only way for fast-paced emissions reductions.

The agreement, replacing the existing Kyoto Protocol, is to enter into force in 2020. (aba/rk)

Source: IAR, Gazeta Wyborcza

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