NEW YORK (Sputnik) — The goal of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris is to reach for the first time a legally binding global climate agreement.
"Despite all of the challenges that we face and there are many, addressing the global threat imposed by climate change has to remain the absolute top priority."
Kerry went on to outline progress made over the past year, including the first ever limits imposed on the amount of harmful carbon pollution US power plants can emit into the atmosphere.
With the much-anticipated UN Climate Change Conference set to take place in Paris in December, Kerry added there remains a great deal of work to do for all nations.
"These and other measures are building critical momentum," Kerry explained. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us to do in the next days."
Some 36 participants at the upcoming Paris conference, including Australia, Russia, the United States and EU member states, have already submitted their goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
