File Photo: Obama and China's Xi Jinping are meeting at the opening of the two-week Paris conference to underscore the need for all nations to come together on a strong agreement to combat climate change. (AFP Photo)
It's a meeting of the world's top two carbon polluters as President Barack Obama and China's leader pull up chairs at the Paris climate conference to discuss efforts to fight global warming.
Both nations already have announced ambitious plans to cap or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in future years.
Now Obama and China's Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) are meeting at the opening of the two-week Paris conference to underscore the need for all nations to come together on a strong agreement to combat climate change.
Obama arrived at the summit site in the Paris suburbs today morning and shook hands warmly with French President Francois Hollande and other officials before beginning his meeting with Xi. China emits about 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gases and the US about 16 per cent.
As the conference kicked off, the US State Department announced early today that the US was pledging $51 million to a global fund to help poorer countries adapt to climate change. The US contribution joins pledges from Germany, Canada, Italy and others to total $248 million. The Obama administration didn't specify where the US dollars would come from.
While in Paris, Obama also is trying to drown out his critics at home who say his energy plan is unattainable and could be wiped away by his successor.