Communicators on cspan. After two weeks of the negotiations in paris, representatives from nearly 200 countries reached a deal to lower Greenhouse Gas emissions in an effort to slow the effects of Climate Change. After the accord was made official by frances foreign minister, president obama spoke from the white house about the deal and its implications for the future. [applause] president obama good evening. In my first inaugural address i committed this country to the tireless task of combating Climate Change and protecting the planet for future generations. Two weeks ago in paris i said before the world we needed a strong global agreement to accomplish this goal. An agreement that reduces Carbon Pollution and sets the world on a course for a low carbon future. A few hours ago we succeeded. We came together around a strong agreement the world needed. We met the moment. President commend hollande and the secretarygeneral for their leadership and for hosting such a successful summit. In, French Foreign minister for presiding with patience and resolve. I want to give a special thanks to secretary john kerry, my senior adviser, our chief negotiator, and everyone on their teams for their outstanding work in making america proud. I also want to thank the people of nearly 200 nations, large and small. Developed and developing, for working together to confront a threat to people of all nations. Together, we have shown what is possible when the world stands as one. Today, the American People can be proud because this historic agreement is a tribute to american leadership. Over the past seven years, we have transformed the United States into the Global Leader in Climate Change. In 2009, we helped to salvage a chaotic copenhagen summit and a establish the principle that all countries had a role to play in combating Climate Change. We then led by example with historic investments in growing Industries Like wind and solar. Creating a new and steady stream of middleclass jobs. We have set the firstever nationwide standards to limit the amount of carbon in the air that our children breathe. From alaska to the great plains, we have partnered with local leaders who are working with their communities to protect themselves from the most Immediate Impact of a changing climate. Skeptics said these actions would kill jobs. Instead, we have seen the longest streak of privatesector job creation in our history. We have driven our economic output to alltime highs while driving our Carbon Pollution down to the lowest level in nearly two decades. Then, with our historic joint announcement with china last year, we showed it was possible to bridge the divide between developing and developed nations that had stymied us for so long. That had stymied progress for so long. That accomplishment encouraged dozens of other nations to set their own ambitious climate the basisnd that was of the success in paris. No one can solve this challenge alone. No country, no matter how small, can sit on the sidelines. We have to solve it together. Now, no agreement is perfect, including this one. Negotiations involving nearly 200 nations are always challenging. Even if all of the initial targets set in paris are met we , will only be part of the way there when it comes to reducing carbon from the atmosphere. We cannot be complacent. The problem is not solved because of this accord, but make no mistake, the Paris Agreement establishes the and during framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis. It creates the architecture for us to continually tackle this problem in an effective way. This agreement is ambitious, with every nation setting and committing to their own specific targets, even as we take into account differences among nations. We will have a strong system of transparency, including independent assessments to help hold every country accountable for meeting its commitments. As technology advances, this agreement allows progress to pave the way for even more ambitious targets over time. We have secured a broader commitment to support the most honorable countries the most wrong honorable countries the able countries as they pursue cleaner economic growth. In short, this agreement will mean less of the Carbon Pollution that threatens our planet. Full implementation of this agreement will help delay or avoid some of the worst consequences of Climate Change and will pave the way for more progress in successive stages over the coming years. Moreover, this agreement sends a powerful signal that the world is firmly committed to a low carbon future. That has the potential to unleash investment and innovation in clean energy at a scale we have never seen before. The targets we have set our bold we have set our bold, and why empowering business, scientists, engineers, workers, and the private sector, investors to work together, this agreement represents the best chance we have to save the one planet we have got. So, i believe this moment can be a turning point for the world. We have shown that the world has both the will and the ability to take on this challenge. It will not the easy. Progress will not always come quick. We cannot be complacent. While our generation will see some of the benefits of building a clean energy economy, jobs created, money saved, we may not live to see the full realization of our achievements. But, that is ok. What matters is that today we can be more confident that this planet will be in better shape for the next generation. That is what i care about. I imagine taking my grandkids, if im lucky enough to have some, to the park someday and holding their hands and hearing their laughter, and watching the quiet sunset, all the while knowing that our work today prevented an alternate future that could have been grim. That our work here and now gave future generations cleaner air and cleaner water and a more sustainable planet. What could be more important than that . Today, thanks to strong, principled american leadership, that is a world we will leave to our children. A world that is safer, more secure, more prosperous, more free. And that is our most Important Mission in our short time here on this earth. Thanks. Announcer on cspan, washington journal is next followed at 10 00 by newsmakers. Then a Senate Oversight hearing with fbi director james comey. Coming up on washington journal, the weekly standard, talks about how they are responding to Donald Trumps candidacy and other developments from the campaign trail. A new report that shows the american middle class shrinking to a point that it no longer represents the majority of the adult population. And a discussion of the nika method for helping combat veterans cope with the psychological effects of war. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2015]] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] host a landmark agreement to combat Climate Change. It will require nearly 200 nations to lower Greenhouse Gas emissions. And ted cruz is taking the lead in iowa. Cruz surged 21 points and is overtaking donald trump as a g. O. P. Frontrunner. It is a big shakeup. We want to hear your thoughts on this sunday. Whats behind cruzs lead. What does this mean for trump and who do you support . You can call in