US energy secretary to renegotiate Paris climate deal

US Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, will not encourage the president to withdraw from the agreement on reducing carbon emissions.

BY RITZAU

Published: 26.04.17 at 13:09

The US should remain part of the Paris climate accord, but renegotiate the terms, according to US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

Paris climate deal

Here are selected points from the climate deal made from COP21 in Paris in December 2015:

*Purpose: To keep global rises in temperature "well below" 2 degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels. Preferably below 1.5 degrees if possible.

*How: The world aims for greenhouse gas emissions to peak "as soon as possible" with subsequent "rapid reductions". In the second half of this century, there must be a balance between CO2 emissions from activities such as energy production and agriculture and the amount of CO2 which can be absorbed by nature via CCS.

*Distribution of the burden: Developed nations which have polluted the atmosphere for the longest must lead the CO2 reductions. Developing nations, which need to burn coal for energy for their growing populations are encouraged to "over time" reduce consumption. Rich nations are encouraged to economically support developing nations' CO2 reductions.

*Financing: Industrialized nations must secure money to help developing countries transition to renewable energy and strengthen their defense against climate change effects such as drought, flooding, or storms. The funding will continuously rise and affluent nations must report every other year what they have paid or planned to pay in support.

*Climate loss & damage: Low island nations and poor countries are the most exposed to climate-caused increases in sea levels and other effects of climate change. It is acknowledged that it is necessary to "stop, reduce, and manage losses". But the exposed countries did not get the words "liability for damages" into the deal.

Sources: UNFCC and AFP

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