World leaders gather to breathe new life into Paris accord

            World leaders gathered in New York to try to breathe new life into the Paris global climate accord. The "One Planet Summit," launched last year by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to accelerate the implementation of the 2015 pact. Having last year warned that "we are losing the battle" against climate change, Macron called on countries to massively increase funding for climate action. Trump has abandoned targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, set by his predecessor Barack Obama, by slashing dozens of environmental regulations. 

           Australia, one of the world's worst per capita greenhouse gas polluters, has scrapped plans to enshrine targets for reducing carbon emissions into law. The Paris agreement also stipulated that rich countries establish an annual $100-billion fund to help developing nations react to our heating planet. But only $10 billion has been collected so far. The United States had promised $3 billion and only gave $1 billion under Obama. 

          The next UN negotiating summit, COP24, will take place in December in Poland. About 30 presidents, prime ministers, and ministers are due to attend, including from Spain, Denmark, Norway, China, as well as from small Pacific island nations whose coastlines are getting eaten by a rising ocean.