Paris may be last chance for legally binding deal

The Paris summit might be the final opportunity to jointly address the challenge of global warming by negotiating a legally-binding agreement to limit the temperature increase to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius, said German Ambassador in Dhaka Thomas Prinz yesterday, adding that his country was ready to assist Bangladesh in its endeavour to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

"Due to its geography and demographics, Bangladesh is among the countries that are most prone to experience negative effects of global warming," said the ambassador on the first day of the UN Climate Conference in Paris.

"Germany acknowledges that climate change has numerous dimensions. On the one hand we urgently need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. On the other, preparation is essential to adapt to the consequences of global warming. Hence, this combination of mitigation and adaptation is essential for a sustainable solution in tackling climate change," he added.