Outcomes of Paris COP21

The UK Government played a major role when the world came together last week in Paris to reach the ambitious deal to reduce global CO2 emissions.

I am delighted that 196 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have agreed at COP21 to reduce their carbon output as soon as possible and to do their best to keep global warming to well below 2°C.

The Paris Agreement is the world's first comprehensive climate agreement. Under the Agreement, each country must determine, plan, and regularly report on the contribution that it undertakes to mitigate global warming. These are determined by all countries individually and are called nationally determined contributions, and are required to be ambitious.

The deal will limit global temperature rises and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, which is vital for our long-term economic and global security.

I pay tribute to the determination of my colleagues the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, Amber Rudd, and the Prime Minister for this fantastic achievement.