president obama: our progress will be measured differently, in a planet that is preserved, and that is what has always made this so hard. our generation may not even live to see the full realization of what we do here, but the knowledge of the next generation will be letter off -- will be better off from what we do here. can we imagine a more worthy reward than that? passing that on to our children and our grandchildren, so that when they look accurate and they see what we did here in paris, they can take pride in our

achievement. be the common purpose here in paris, a world that is markedof our children, not by conflict but cooperation, and not by human suffering but by human progress. a world that is safer and more prosperous and more secure and more free. number one, -- better than we inherited. let's get to work. thank you very much. [applause] dr. flan>> thank you. mollie: we just heard president barack obama at the cop21, announcing u.s. commitment to cutting back on co2 emissions. with me, my colleague, genie

godula. the capital for the moment of the world in its effort to reduce co2 emissions and take effective action against climate change. we just heard from the u.s. president. we are expecting to hear from the chinese leader, xi jinping, in a few moments as well. much focus on the two countries, china and the u.s., being the top two polluters in the world. let's take a look at what promises some countries have made in the run up to cop21. >> leading by example, some of leaders arebiggest setting ambitious targets -- among them, china, the biggest emitter of carbon gas. beijing says it's emissions will peak by 2030. wind andcommitting to solar power and natural gas. the u.s. is aiming to cut

emissions by 26% to 28% over the 80% by 2050.nd president obama: if we are the early adapters and the example centers and we are the ones who are going to be creating and selling the products and services that help the entire world adapt to a clean energy future. union -- the 28 member bloc wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. even india, long seen as a reluctant player, says it will reduce its carbon intensity by 35%. that is the amount of co2 emitted by each unit of energy. generate halfll its energy from a noble sources. but the goals are only achievable if financial support mechanisms are put in place to

support their efforts. communityernational countries tailored to their -- with support tailored to their actual needs. >> researchers say the targets are not enough to stop temperatures rising over two degrees celsius over above the preindustrial average. that is the number set by will leaders in 2009. island nations are the most at threat, and they say even more needs to be done. looking at what some pledges are, this is the opening 11 days, for the next there will be intense negotiations between government representatives as well as the members of business, industry, and agriculture community. we have also heard from the u.s. president as well as the

french president, touching on the recent terror attacks in paris. security is a major concern at this cop21. let's take a listen to what we heard from the french president in his opening remarks. francois hollande: never has an issue at an international meeting had higher stakes for the planet. by december 12, this agreement needs to be reached in paris and the conditions have to ensure that it is a good accord. important accord, and accord that truly corresponds with the expectations of our people, and it is a long-lasting agreement. that was francois hollande, making his opening statement at the cop21. 40,000 people are expected to attend, making this the biggest climate summit ever. the goal is to deliver the first only global agreement

reining in greenhouse gas omissions. that has been blamed for dangerous levels of climate change. as of now, with the pledges that have come in, we will see a rise of roughly 3 degrees celsius. the goal is 2 degrees celsius. the french president said if we could reach 1.5 that would be ideal. we heard from you and general secretary ban key moon -- ban ki-moon. ban ki-moon: we need to go much faster, much farther if we have to limit the global temperature rise below 2 degrees celsius. it plainly has made clear. even a 2 degrees celsius rise will have a serious consequence water,d and international peace and security.

molly: ban ki-moon speaking earlier today to we have been here before. this marks the 20th year of high-level negotiations to curb global emissions. we saw in copenhagen back in 2009 there were high hopes for that meeting that looked promising. it started off well, but a series of medics pats meant that no binding treaty was ever -- a series of diplomatic spats meant that no binding agreement was ever reached. many are asking if paris will be different. >> as the 2009 climate change summit came to an end, -- the copenhagen agreement was not passed unanimously. is no commitment , translating this political record into a legally binding treaty. >> since then, climate change

summit have been a regular feature of the calendar. the goal of the paris summit is to negotiation a pact to keep global warming to know more than 2 degrees celsius, over preindustrial levels. costis time that has optimism. as the scientific community becomes ever more certain of the link between human activity and climate change, technology is advancing. renewable energy is cheaper than ever. wind and solar alternatives can compete with fossil fuels. has also moved on geopolitically. last year the world's two biggest common polluters, china and the u.s., made an unprecedented joint pledge to cut carbon emissions, a show of solidarity unthinkable at copenhagen. and then there is public opinion. climate change rallies are an increasingly familiar sight. in september 2014, almost half a million people, including un secretary general ban ki-moon,

took to the streets of new york for the people's climate march. rarely has there been a point in history in which we can tackle this problem right now. >> there is increased enthusiasm in developing countries for reduced emissions and increasing low carbon energy. pope francis has put his considerable weight behind the issue, emphasizing its moral dimension. pope francis: we cannot continue to turn our back to reality, to our brothers, and to our mother, the earth. not all good news. since 2009, the price of coal has tumbled. coal-fired power stations have sprung up as a result in poor countries. and the world has passed an important milestone. there are now 7 billion of us on the planet. are stretchedes further, and responsible collective action gets harder.

molly: that was our correspondent taking a look at what has changed since copenhagen in 2009 in paris. but these latest talks are playing a major role in the climate negotiations. i amssing more on that, joined by our business editor, stephen carroll. it is reeling a meeting of governments. the companies are the polluters, and the governments are trying to control them. that is why they have been very involved in the process. they are the ones that will be affected by issues like carbon pricing, for example, if implemented by countries around the world. in the run-up to cop21, we have seen many pre-technical fashions in countries in areas like improving energy efficiency, things like that. the french government has let a dialogue with business groups in the run-up to this event, on the content of what the draft agreement will contain. they have had two already.

they will it be able to discuss the impact of whatever is agreed during that conference. the u.n. has acknowledged the importance of companies and implementing really any sort of deal that is done, and they have set a list of commitments the companies can sign up to, in the hope that they will be able to help reduce greenhouse gas omissions. the idea behind all of these conditions -- behind all of these emissions is that they will keep them under the level to keep the temperature rise below 2 degrees. molly: excellent, steven pare it we are going to take a moment to cut back into the speeches where we have the chinese president making his address. let's listen in. decisio n zinping: we can pursue a

better future. let me take this opportunity to express my sincere sympathy to the french people, and my gratitude to president hollande and the french government for their meticulous preparation for this conference. this paris conference is convened to strengthen implementation of the u.n. framework convention on climate change and bring about a balanced,ive, ambitious, and binding agreement on climate change. hugo,ench writer, victor once observed that extreme -- springextreme from from extreme resolutions. all parties making a joint effort with sincerity and confidence, the paris conference will yield satisfying results.

, ladies andues gentlemen, the paris agreement should focus on strengthening post 2020 global action on climate change. efforts tolobal pursue sustainable development. the paris agreement should help meet the goals of the u.n. and chart a course for development. the agreement should follow the principles set out in the u.n. and contribute to its full and effective implementation. the agreement should put effective control on the increase of the concentration of greenhouse gases and encourage countries to pursue low carbon development. the paris agreement should help govern eyes global efforts and

encourage global participation. it should include arrangements that propel countries to make concerted efforts. besides government, it should also mobilize businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and all players in society to participate that international cooperation on climate change that is raising public awareness of climate change. the paris agreement should help increase input of resources to ensure actions on climate change. developed countries should honor their commitments, those mobilizing 100 billion u.s. dollars each year before 2020, and provide stronger financial support to developing countries afterwards. it is also important that climate friendly technologies should be transferred to

developing countries. the paris agreement should accommodate the national conditions of various countries and lay emphasis on practical results. it is imperative to respect differences among countries, especially developing countries, in domestic policies, capacity building, and economic structure. shoulding climate change not deny the legitimate needs of developing countries to reduce poverty and improve the people's living standards. dear colleagues, ladies and conferencethe paris is not the finishing line but a new starting point. as an important part of global governance, the global efforts on climate change can be taken as a mirror for us to reflect on for future to have

global governors and how to build a community of shared future for mankind. -- wealuable inspiration should create a future of cooperation with each country making contribution to the best of its ability. the paris conference should reject the narrowminded --tality of zero-some game of zero-sum game, assuming more shared responsibilities for win-win outcomes. thehould create a future of rule of law, fairness, and justice. defectiverative for a observance and in limitation of intellectual -- of international rules, equity, justice. at the same time, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must continue to be adhered to.

we must create a future of inclusiveness, and mutual learning, and common development. countries need to increase dialogue, exchange best practices, and achieve common development through mutual learning. at the same time, countries should be allowed to seek their own solutions that best suit their respective international solutions. dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, china has been actively engaged in the global campaign on climate change. china now tops the world in terms of energy conservation and utilization of new and renewable energies. going forward, ecological endeavors will feature prominently in china's 35-year plan.

china will work hard to input division of inclusive development. china will, on the basis of technological and institutional innovation, adopt new policy measures including industrial mix, low carbon energy systems, lowlop ring building and carbon transportation, and build a nationwide carbon trading market. and an organization featuring harmony between man and nature. --is intended nationally reduceledges to ple emissions by 2030 and try to achieve it as soon as possible. and by 2030, reduce co2 emissions per unit of gdp by 60% to 65% over the 2005 levels.

raise a share of non-possible fuels -- of non-fossil to about 20% and increase forest stock by around 4.5 million cubic meters over 2005. this requires strenuous efforts, but we have confidence and resolve to fulfill our commitment. the chinese government earnestly implement this policy commitment of cooperation regarding climate change. in a show of greater support, china announced the r&b, 20 billion climate cooperation fund in september. next year, china will launch to set up 10 industrial parks and

start 100 aviation and adaptation protests n.l. of the tackling climate change. china will continue as long as international cooperation includes clean energy, ecological protection, smart agriculture, and low cities. china will also help other upeloping countries pick their financing capabilities. dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, tackling climate change is a shared mission for mankind. -- let us joinw hands to contribute to the establishment of an equitable and effective global mechanism work fore change, global sustainable development at a high level, and bring about

new international relations featuring win-win cooperation. thank you. [applause] molly: there we just heard from ,hinese leader xi jinping attending cop21 on its opening day. we also heard from u.s. president barack obama just a little while earlier, a lot of focus on what is coming out of these two countries in terms of their commitment to reducing co2 emissions. of course, this as both countries are the top polluters, but also the driving economic forces, global economy. we discussed it in terms of what businesses are doing at this cop21, with business editor stephen carroll. you are walking us through some climate emissions. stephen: you heard from xi jinping that he is talking about funding industrial parks for renault what energy. that is the kind of rhetoric we

can expect to hear, looking at a nation as they're going to help businesses. businesses seem to be the message coming through, that they know they have to get business on board and have to be economically viable for countries to produce things that will be producing less carbon. the companies themselves have signed up to it, across different scales and different parts of the world. the u.n. response to clearing -- climateng for cl change. there are 325 copies on board. the initiative sponsored by president obama, the american business act on climate change, and they have 81 companies signed up. global brands that we are familiar with, those companies are getting on board with this climate message. unlike we also have companies that are sponsoring these talks as well. stephen: there are more than 50

companies signed up as targets or sponsors. some of those companies are giving financial help as well. the french government said they want to raise around 40 million euros by 20% at the cost of running this conference via the private sector. and they hope the sponsors will be contributed that amount of money. you can see the names on your screen -- google, sanofi, l'oreal. lots of different companies getting involved in and behind this conference as well. but there has been some criticism of some of the companies involved, that whether or not they are being accused of green-washing their credentials, trumping up their environmental credentials, while they are involved as polluting businesses as well. one french company has been financing projects like oil drilling in canada. stop fundingill coal in which companies can --

in rich countries, but some financial -- some environmental activists are causing it -- are that a silly-- company that operates nuclear power plants, coal-fired power plants, and massive amounts of carbon. activists are pointing to the standard that while companies are making inroads and commitments, they perhaps are not going far enough for it molly: i will take this opportunity to introduce a guest, the president of geico act. i believe your company is involved in what we are -- of eco-act. iselieve your company involved in what we are talking about, implementing public strategy. stephen mentioned some companies are accused of greenwashing or trumping up efforts in terms of perhaps not doing enough. are we seeing businesses, in your opinion, it do enough to go green?

>> i think green machine is not any more valid. -- i think greenwashing is not any more valid. companies are now wanting to get true strategy of tackling climate change. we are like lots of companies who want to set up into a true strategy which integrates -- how to tackle carbon in their world strategy, to improve year after year. there are combinations. it is a concrete strategy. i take the heart of climate balance. through constant -- through concrete solution and climate

change. to reduce, as a concentration of -- less gas housing in a year.

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