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paris climate talks

A climate deal final draft text has been reached after nearly two weeks of intensive negotiations, Paris climate talks organizers say.

An official in the office of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the AFP the draft would be presented to ministers on December 12.

No details of the proposed agreement have been released so far.

The tentative deal was reached nearly 16 hours after the talks had been scheduled to close.

“We have a text to present,” the official said, adding that the draft would be now translated into the UN’s six official languages.Paris climate deal final draft

According to analysts, this is not a done deal – it will only be finally adopted if there are no objections raised at today’s ministerial meeting, and even this is unlikely to come before afternoon in Paris.

Laurent Fabius, who has presided over the talks, had said earlier that the “conditions were never better” for a strong and ambitious agreement.

One positive note came with the announcement that Brazil was willing to join the so-called “high-ambition coalition” of countries including the EU, the US and 79 countries. The alliance said it would push for an ambitious and legally binding deal with a strong review mechanism.

President Barack Obama spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping by phone on December 11, with both leaders saying they were committed to an “ambitious” deal.

“Both leaders agreed that the Paris conference presents a crucial opportunity to galvanize global efforts to meet the climate change challenge,” a White House statement said.

“They committed that their negotiating teams in Paris would continue to work closely together and with others to realize the vision of an ambitious climate agreement.”

Climate change talks – the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) – have begun in Paris, aimed at signing a long-term deal to reduce global carbon emissions.

More than 150 world leaders have converged to launch the two-week talks.

The last major meeting in 2009 ended in failure. However, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is chairing the meeting, said a deal was within reach.

Most of the discussions are expected to centre on an agreement to limit global warming to 2C (35.6F).

Assessments of the more than 180 national plans that have been submitted by countries suggest that if they were implemented the world would see a rise of nearer to 3C.Paris climate change talks COP21

Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal declared this year’s meeting open on November 30.

Strong action on carbon emissions is essential for multiple reasons, said Manuel Pulgar Vidal, who hosted last year’s UN climate conference in Lima.

Manuel Pulgar Vidal said a deal would show the world that countries can work together to fight global warming as well as terrorism.

Christiana Figueres, the head of the UN’s climate change negotiations, addressed delegates at the start of the summit.

The talks are taking place amid tight security, two weeks after Paris terror attacks claimed by ISIS.

Negotiators from 195 countries will try to reach a deal at the meeting.

This year, world leaders are attending the start of the two-week meeting to give impetus to the talks.

Some 150 heads of state, including President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, have arrived at the summit.