A landmark agreement on global climate change was adopted by the 196 parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Saturday during the 21st session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France.

The Paris Climate Agreement sets a target of holding the global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and strives for limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. It has been adopted on the basis of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities between developed and developing countries. Developed countries agree to raise $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries transform their economies to cope with climate change.

The agreement is regarded as a new beginning for international operation ushering the world into a sustainable new era. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "What was once unthinkable is now unstoppable."

China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua said after the adoption of the Paris Agreement that China will undertake international obligations commensurate with its own national conditions, development stage and capacity as a responsible developing country.