Premier Jay Weatherill signs international agreement to keep global temperature rise from climate change below 2C

SOUTH Australia has become the first Australian state to sign up to an international agreementto limit global warming to less than 2C, Premier Jay Weatherill says.

SOUTH Australia has become the first Australian state to sign up to an international agreement

to limit global warming to less than 2C, Premier Jay Weatherill says.

Eight states, regions and cities signed the ‘Under2MOU’ agreement on Sunday in at a ceremony hosted by Governor of California Jerry Brown at the US Ambassador’s residence in Paris.

Eighty jurisdictions are now signatories to the agreement.

Premier Jay Weatherill said national governments were working towards an agreement on limiting global emissions, but cities and states “will need to do the heavy lifting”.

“We are the ones who have control of the policy levers, and here in Paris, we have been held

up as an example of a jurisdiction that has put its plans into action,” he said.

Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter said SA’s emissions were down 9 per cent on 1990 levels, but the economy had grown by 60 per cent over that period.

“Taking part in the Paris Climate Conference this week has given us the chance to highlight

the ability to grow an economy while reducing emissions and to invite the world’s industries

and research institutions to come and test new low carbon technologies in SA,” he said.

“By making Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city, Adelaide will be a showcase city for

renewables and clean technology to attract investment and create new jobs.”