Top officials have stressed the "absolute necessity" of reaching a strong climate change deal at the upcoming 21st Conference of Parties (COP) summit in Paris starting Nov. 30.

During the "Pre-COP" ministerial meeting in Paris that concluded Nov. 10, COP 21 president Laurent Fabius said one of the major 'progresses' reached included the more precise setting of a 2°C limit on global warming targeted ideally at 1.5°C, also agreeing upon a 'low carbon' notion.

Fabius also said a successful Paris deal would include reviews of each country's intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) targets every five years to prevent backtracking, and post-2020 financing of $100 billion to help countries transition to green energy and adapt to global warming effects. Additional funding from new sources is also expected.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peru's environment minister, said "now is the time of decision" in reaching a strong climate deal.

But the clock is already ticking. A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report released on Nov. 9 warns that atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are rising exponentially.

"The latest analysis of observations from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme shows that the globally averaged mole fractions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) reached new highs in 2014, with CO2 at 397.7±0.1 ppm, CH4 at 1833±1 ppb and N2O at 327.1±0.1 ppb. These values constitute, respectively, 143 per cent, 254 per cent and 121 per cent of pre-industrial (1750) levels. The atmospheric increase of CO2 from 2013 to 2014 was close to that averaged over the past 10 years," states the WMO's findings.

Canada welcomed to Paris

As the climate clock sent its warning, Fabius welcomed the presence of Catherine McKenna, Canada's new environment and climate change minister, at the pre-COP talks.

McKenna's attendance signals a new role for Canada after former PM Stephen Harper snubbed previous climate discussions, including a working lunch hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York two months ago.

The newly elected Liberal government favours national targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but will also let provinces craft their own emissions reduction programs. In addition, the Liberals have promised to invest $20 billion over 10 years on greener infrastructure, and to issue "green bonds" to fund environmentally friendly energy projects.

However, Canada still lacks a concrete, Paris-specific emissions reduction target, placing it behind other leading economies who have pledged to curb greenhouse gas output and make a wholesale transition to renewable energy.

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