Climate deal ‘best chance we have’

German chancellor Angela Merkel has applauded the global pact to fight climate change that was adopted by nearly 200 nations in Paris.

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”.