World leaders will gather in Paris on Monday for a two-week conference to try and figure out how to effect meaningful change on the potentially catastrophic issue of climate change.
Here are the answers to five commonly asked questions about the climate change talks in the French capital next week.
What is the COP21?
The event is formally known as the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) will run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 and will feature leaders from more than 190 countries including newly minted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
They are expected to call for a deal to prevent a dangerous rise in average global temperatures that a UN climate panel says could lead to catastrophic and irreversible impacts on the earth.
READ MORE: Trudeau pledges $2.6B to developing nations to fight climate change
Thousands of delegates, politicians, business leaders, scientists, environmental activists and journalists will also be at the summit. Other member of the Canadian delegation attending the conference include Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Toronto Mayor John Tory.
Public demonstrations on climate change in Paris and in cities around France have been called off in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the French capital two weeks ago. Demonstrations in other cities around the world will be held over the weekend prior to the conference.
Why is it important?
A report from the United Nations earlier this year said 2015 likely to be the warmest on record with the global average surface temperature rising one degree Celsius above the pre-industrial era. The Paris climate talks will focus on creating a plan to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 C.
While it may sound like a small step, the United Nations and climate scientists have said a rise of 2 C could bring worsening droughts, storms and floods that are already being seen in some countries.
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The conference will also look at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that each country has pledged to achieve by 2020. Ahead of the talks, the United States and China have pledged to shift their industries to green, low-carbon fuels.
Previous climate talks in Copenhagen in 2009 stalled over disagreements between developed and developing countries over how the cost of reducing emission should be distributed.
What will be at stake for Canada?
Prime Minister Trudeau is looking to change Canada’s role in climate diplomacy by making it a priority as he heads to the upcoming Paris talks.
WATCH: Justin Trudeau discusses Paris climate summit
Canada is still a long ways off from meeting the target of a 30 per cent emissions cut by 2030 set by the former Harper government. The new Liberal government hasn’t announced a new target yet.
How does it affect me?
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that, since the 1980s, the average number of natural disasters each year has almost doubled, producing damages estimated at $1.5 trillion.
READ MORE: 2014 warmest in 134 years: NASA, NOAA
Weather-related disasters like floods, storms, heatwaves, and droughts have reached 606,000 deaths or 30,000 per year since 1995 according to the U.N.’s officer for disaster risk reduction calculates.
What are the main challenges?
One of the main sticking points is between the developed countries, which have historically produced most of the CO2 behind global warming, and developing nations.
Wealthy countries have pledged to give $100 billion a year by 2020 to help poorer countries reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. The Canadian government announced Friday it will give $2.65 billion over five years to developing countries to help their fight against climate change.
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Developing countries also want “loss and damage” funds to help repair the damage caused by climate change-related events, like floods or hurricanes.
India could also pose a challenge to reaching an agreement at the climate conference. As the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and the second most populous country, any meaningful deal will need the support of India. Leaders may be cautious about committing to higher carbon cuts without an assurance from wealthier countries that they will help fund the transition to clean energy away from coal.
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