Seventy years ago, the United Nations was created from the ashes of the Second World War. Seven decades later, in Paris, nations have united in the face of another threat – the threat to life due to a rapidly warming planet. The Paris agreement is a triumph for people, the environment and for multilateralism. It is a health insurance policy for the planet. For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb their emissions, strengthen resilience and act to address climate change.

Together, countries have agreed that, in minimising risks of climate change, the national interest is best served by pursuing the common good. I believe it is an example we could follow across the political agenda.

The victory in Paris caps a remarkable year. From the historic sustainable development summit in New York to the climate conference in Paris, this has been a year in which the UN has proved its ability to deliver hope and healing to the world.

The negotiations of UAE were strong therefore they are assured of a renewable future. UAE has set three goals for COP21

1. To be signed by all countries.

2. To set ambitious plans &

3. Allowed for flexibility

The UAE delegation argued for allowing countries to commit according to their circumstances and abilities. The alternative would be for 195 countries to adhere to the same commitments – from developed countries in colder climates to smaller developing island countries in the tropics.

The UAE had already planned to achieve the accord?s goals before the summit by providing 24 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2021.

The deal, to take effect from 2020, ends decades-long rows between rich and poor nations over how to carry out what will be a multi-trillion-dollar effort to cap global warming and deal with consequences already occurring.

?We are pretty happy as the UAE with this proposed deal because we were able to achieve all our goals in terms of the negotiations and what we wanted to see in the deal,? said Majid Al Suwaidi, lead climate change negotiator for the UAE. ?In the long run, it sort of falls in line with the strategy that we already have in the UAE.? The crux of the fight to limit global warming requires cutting back or eliminating the use of coal, oil and gas for energy, which has largely powered prosperity since the Industrial Revolution began in the 1700s. The burning of those fossil fuels releases invisible greenhouse gases, which cause the planet to warm and change Earth?s delicate climate system.

The Paris accord sets a target of limiting warming of the planet to ?well below? 2? compared with the Industrial Revolution, while aiming for an even more ambitious goal of 1.5?. To do so, the emissions of greenhouse gases will need to peak ?as soon as possible?, followed by rapid reductions, the agreement states. The world has already warmed almost 1?, which has caused major problems for many people around the world particularly in developing countries, such as more severe storms, droughts and rising seas, according to scientists.

If the watchword in the industry leading up to Paris was commitment, with this historic accord the next phase will be all about action. Now is the time for governments, business and citizens alike to turn their climate pledges into tangible projects and initiatives.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week next month between 16th and 23rd January 2016, ADSW will, once again, bring world leaders, policy makers, thought leaders, decision makers, experts, scientists, business leaders and academics together to discuss, debate, and ultimately address the energy and sustainability challenges of the future. It will be the first global environment focused event following Cop21.