WORLD Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) says governments still need to deliver on that Paris Agreement going forward which must include assistance for the poor and vulnerable who will suffer from the immediate impacts of climate change.

Leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith said it was vital for our leaders to make actions stronger and stronger over time, in terms of mitigation, adaptation and finance.

“Governments have critically agreed to keep warming well below 2C and aim to limit temperature increase to 1.5C. Everything they do from now on must be measured against that goal. And most importantly, they still need to actually deliver on that goal going forward, which must include assistance for the poor and vulnerable who will suffer from the immediate impacts of climate change,” Ms Smith said.

“Those impacts are only getting worse and our ambition and actions must urgently match the scale of this global threat and be in line with science. Our leaders must make their actions stronger and stronger over time, in terms of mitigation, adaptation and finance. This is vital.”

Executive director at Greenpeace International Kumi Naidoo said the “wheel of climate action turns slowly, but in Paris it has turned. This deal puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong side of history”.

Co-founder of 350.org, Bill McKibben said every government seemed to recognise that the fossil fuel era must end and soon but the power of the fossil fuel industry was reflected in the text, which drags out the transition so far that endless climate damage would be done.

“Since pace is the crucial question now, activists must redouble our efforts to weaken that industry,” Mr McKibben added.