Nearly 150 world leaders are gathered near Paris for what is being billed as a last-chance summit to avoid catastrophic climate change.
NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that this is the biggest diplomatic meeting in France since 1948. She filed this report for our Newscast unit:
"French foreign minister Laurent Fabius welcomed the 147 world leaders and more than 45,000 participants as he opened the UN climate conference.
"It is the first time developing nations will also commit to reducing emissions. But they will rely on funding from richer countries.
"2015 is so far the hottest year on record. Scientists warn if nothing is done, the planet will suffer rising sea levels more floods, worsening drought, water shortages, storms and other catastrophic events."
During his opening speech, President Obama said that "no nation — large or small, wealthy or poor — is immune" to the ills of climate change.