Dear friends,
I am writing this with the cheers and applause still ringing in my ears after the successful conclusion of the COP21 climate summit in Paris.

While not perfect, the Paris Agreement is an agreement for all humanity. I am pleased that the negotiators heeded the unprecedented call for climate justice which has echoed from all corners of the world over the course of this year.

Climate change is already affecting us all and the Paris Agreement provides the opportunity to transform our way of life to one that is fairer and more sustainable. It establishes the need to keep global temperature rise below 2°C and closer to 1.5°C.

It also compels countries to act urgently to increase the capacity of communities to cope with climate change and to uphold human dignity in the face of unmanageable climate impacts.