Netanyahu welcomes “important” climate change deal

Israel’s prime minister has welcomed the global pact to fight climate change that was adopted by nearly 200 nations in Paris.

At his weekly Cabinet meeting Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal “important”.

The Paris agreement aims to keep global warming from rising another degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) between now and 2100, a key demand of poor countries ravaged by rising sea levels and other effects of climate change.

Bibi said Israel has an interest, like other countries, in slowing down global warming if not halting it altogether.

Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Avi Gabbay said a budget of about 200 million dollars (£131m) has been devoted to meet climate targets.

He said Israel would move toward renewable energy sources, cleaner technology and more public transport. “We have a lot of steps to do and we are doing it now.”

The German chancellor, Angela Merkel said in a statement that the climate agreement marks “the first time that the entire world community has obligated itself to act – to act in the battle against global climate change”.

She said while there was still a lot of work ahead, the deal is a “sign of hope that we will manage to secure the life conditions of billions of people for the future.”