COP 21: Opening Statements

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Today marked the first day of the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.  Negotiators will be hammering out the details of the Paris Agreement for the next two weeks (for an overview see here), but for today the spotlight belonged to the world leaders setting the stage for the conference.  

A common thread being woven into the various speeches is the important role that climate action and the COP 21 will play in the fight against terrorism.  Here is US President Barack Obama on that nexus:

He added that the meeting symbolised a global "act of defiance" that proves the world stands undeterred by attacks linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Europe and beyond.
"What greater rejection of those who would tear down our world than martialling our best efforts to save it," Obama said.

And the host, French President Francois Hollande:

"What is at stake with this climate conference is peace," [Hollande] said at the opening of the summit.
"The fight against terrorism and the fight against climate change are two major global challenges we must face," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is emphasizing the need for developed countries to support developing countries financially.  And Pope Francis described humanity as being "at the limits of suicide."

More to come as the negotiations progress.