World must secure 'binding' climate deal in Paris: Merkel

The international community must secure a binding deal against climate change at key UN talks in Paris next week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today. "We must now agree on a binding review mechanism under international law, so that this century can credibly be called a century of decarbonisation," said Merkel. "I hope that this conference will be a success, it can be a wonderful signal against terror, against war, against the reasons that force people to flee," she added.

A total of 147 heads of state and government will attend the climate summit in Paris next week, at a time of heightened security after the French capital was hit by deadly jihadist attacks in mid-November. The meeting's goal is to produce a pact that can limit average global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. A key test for Paris will be to include a mechanism in the pact to periodically review and improve the pledges until the 2 C goal comes into view.