The 21st conference of member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change kicked off in the French capital Monday.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is taking part in the conference. Egypt is representing Africa in the event since it heads the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

Sisi is scheduled to deliver a speech on behalf of African countries during which he will press for a binding and objective agreement on climate change that takes into consideration the rights of all parties. The president will stress the importance that the agreement be based on the concept of joint responsibility and different burdens on developed and developing countries to alleviate and cope with climate change.

Nearly 150 world leaders are taking part in the summit.

More than 40,000 delegates from 195 countries are attending the COP21, meant to achieve a legally binding agreement to keep global warming below what most scientists say is the critical threshold of 2 degrees Celsius of warming.

Sources: MENA