soldiers will secure the conference site, and 6,300 others will deploy in Paris. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said nearly 1,000 people thought to pose security risks had been denied entry into France.
The goal of the climate talks is to limit average global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), over pre-Industrial Revolution levels by curbing fossil fuel emissions blamed for climate change. “I hope this time the conference will lead to something solid,” said protester Denis Diderot, a retired university teacher who joined the demonstration wearing a beret.
Rallies demanding curbs on carbon pollution have been growing around the world since Friday, with marches involving tens of thousands across Australia Sunday kickstarting a final day of people-powered protest. Similar events were planned for Rio de Janeiro, New York and Mexico City, with protesters echoing scientific warnings of superstorms, drought and rising sea levels swamping vast areas if concrete action is not taken soon.
In Madrid, about 10,000 people, many of htem waving placards reading “Stop CO2”, marched on the main Puerta del Sol square, led by a group of children.
“In 10 years´ time our children are going to say, ‘Mum, did you know about this? What was everyone doing´?” said Kate Charlesworth, a doctor and mother in Sydney, where 45,000 people converged.
Religious leaders in Paris delivered petitions to the UN summit organisers with almost 1.8 million signatures demanding immediate climate action.In a sign of the urgency, the start of the negotiations themselves, conducted by bureaucrats, have been brought forward to Sunday — the eve of the official opening.
In the past week, the UN’s weather body said the average global temperature for the year 2015 is set to rise one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, halfway towards the targeted UN ceiling.
Voluntary carbon-curbing pledges submitted by nations to bolster the Paris pact, even if fully adhered to, put Earth on track for warming of 2.7-3.5 degrees C, according to UN climate chief Christiana Figueres.
French President Francois Hollande, host of the November 30-December 11 talks, has warned of obstacles ahead for the 195 negotiating nations.Potential stumbling blocks range from finance for climate vulnerable and poor countries to scrutiny of commitments to curb greenhouse gases and even the legal status of the accord.