The world collectively agreed to combat global warming with the signing of the first international climate treaty Saturday in Paris.
This is a historic moment. Breathe a sigh of relief everyone. This is good news.
It doesn’t mean the work is done — not by a long shot — and that’s surely something pundits, politicians, campaigners and scientists alike will go to great lengths to hammer home for the foreseeable future.
But it does mean that nearly 200 hundred countries have agreed to work together. What’s more, they’ve more or less agreed on the basis of science and that only came about after a monumental amount of time, energy, diplomacy, negotiation, steadfastness and compromise were all thrown into a giant airport hangar on the outskirts of Paris.
Such accomplishments are not come by lightly. This is as much an important victory for the climate as it is for international diplomacy. Way to go, world.
It sounded like this when it happened:
.@LaurentFabius: “I see there is no objection, #ParisAgreement is now adopted!” #COP21 pic.twitter.com/xDQ19b07Qn
— COP21en (@COP21en) December 12, 2015
We all know the vaaaaast majority of people will never take a gander at the actual text of the agreement. But it’s chalk-a-block full of really important details that will determine how countries will move forward back home after they depart from the chic Charles de Gaulle airport.
Here are some key high- and lowlights, for your overviewing pleasure.