Obama invokes MLK to urge action on climate: 'There is such a thing as being too late' by Steven Mufson on Nov 30, 2015, 9:07 AM Advertisement
 PARIS — President Obama sought to rally world leaders at a climate summit on Monday, declaring that "no nation large or small, wealthy or poor, is immune" to challenges such as global warming and urged political action even if the benefits are not seen for generations. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Obama warned that "there is such a thing as being too late." "And when it comes to climate change that hour is almost upon us," he added. The president said that "the United States not only recognizes our role in creating this problem, we embrace our responsibility to do something about it." Obama kicked off his day at the Paris gathering with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, hailing their mutual work on climate change but urging greater Chinese cooperation on cyber-crime and "maritime" issues that include China's military construction on disputed reefs in the South China Sea. In remarks before the session, seated side by side with Xi, Obama stressed the importance of cooperation between the world's two largest economies and greenhouse gas emitters, saying that "nowhere has that cooperation been more necessary and more fruitful" than on climate change. Putting China first on the schedule was an indication of China's central role on global issues such as climate change. It was just a year ago that Obama and Xi vowed to set definite limits on the levels of greenhouse gas emissions, laying the foundation for other countries to follow suit. On Monday, Obama said: "our leadership on this issue has been absolutely vital."  Other highlights of Obama's day here include a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narandra Modi, and the formal unveiling of an initiative to boost research and development spending on new technologies, led by Bill Gates and a score of private investors and by 19 countries that vowed to double their research and development spending.
The summit will also feature a goal of a massive investment in solar power in countries closest to the equator. "We have broken the old arguments for inaction," Obama said at the plenary session on Monday. "We have proved that strong economic growth and stable investment no longer have to conflict with one another." Obama is one of about 150 world leaders at the Paris summit — formally known as the 21st Conference of Participants. In the wake of terrorist attacks just two weeks ago, the conference has become a major security challenge and Parisians have been told they cannot drive in the city Monday or Tuesday. After arriving in Paris on Sunday, Obama's motorcade glided along the Seine through largely deserted streets before stopping in front of Le Bataclan, the concert hall where scores of people were killed in the terrorist attacks Nov. 13.  Flanked by French President François Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Obama placed a white rose on the street in front of the concert hall, making a small addition to the mound of flowers and candles there.
After standing for a minute of silence with his hands folded before him, Obama walked away, briefly placing a hand on the shoulders of Hollande and Hidalgo. Obama hopes to use his two days at the summit as a way of celebrating achievements made over the past several months, as well as negotiating with countries such as India, which is pressing for greater financial assistance and technology transfer. The United States announced it will contribute $51.2 million to a $248 million Least Developed Countries Fund to help the world's poorest countries adapt to climate change. Germany is the largest of 11 donors to the fund. But American officials said they would resist calls by many small island states and other countries vulnerable to climate change effects that developed nations pay reparations or damages due to their historic emissions. Obama will meet with island nations Tuesday. In addition to dealing with cyber issues and the South China Sea, Obama said he also wanted to discuss how China can help support efforts to fight the Islamic State. And Obama offered condolences for the apparent killing of a Chinese hostage by the Islamic State. "There is far more that the United Sates and China have in common than separates us," he said SEE ALSO: A year after one of the most far-reaching moves of Obama's presidency, his legacy is still up in the air
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