High-level delegates from 196 countries reached a historic agreement Saturday to curb climate change by limiting carbon pollution. The Paris Agreement calls on governments to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C, charting a course for people and wildlife that avoids the worst impacts of climate change.

Collin O’Mara, president and chief executive officer of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

"It’s heartening that leaders from around the world have come together in historic fashion to forge a path forward for a solution to this global crisis. With American leadership, nations have set emissions reductions targets and committed to ambitiously ramp them up over time. Importantly, the Agreement explicitly recognizes the value of forests – critical for both climate and wildlife – and calls for their global conservation.  Developed countries are also helping ensure every nation benefits from clean energy innovation and receives the financial and technical assistance needed to safeguard people and wildlife from the unavoidable impacts of climate change. 

"With 2015 on pace to be the hottest year ever and record-shattering December warmth gripping the East Coast, this groundbreaking agreement will mark a momentous time when people got serious about ensuring we pass along a safe, secure, and thriving world to our children, one filled with the same abundant opportunities to enjoy America’s wildlife and outdoor traditions that we’ve had. All nations need to move forward to implement their commitments and continue to increase their ambition over time, as the first round of commitments will not get us there alone.

"In America, we’ve made great progress over the last few years with the Clean Power Plan and other steps to reduce carbon emissions that impact wildlife. It is important moving forward that we have a bipartisan embrace of the goals of this agreement. The National Wildlife Federation will call upon decision makers at home to support this essential new global deal and find pathways to ensure that we continue to achieve further necessary carbon pollution reductions going forward."