Almost 200 countries agree climate deal 'to keep temperature rise below 2C'

There were emotional scenes at the Paris climate talks as nearly 200 nations finally agreed a deal to attempt to keep temperature rises "well below" 2C.

That excitement was understandable given the historic deal has been 20 years in the making:

Video report by ITV News science correspondent Alok Jha.

The US president has welcomed the Paris climate change agreement, saying it demonstrated "what's possible when the world stands as one".

Barack Obama emphasised the US role in the developments that led up to the Paris agreement, including the US role in the earlier 2009 Copenhagen talks, but said the Paris agreement had only been achieved because nations came together.

"Today the American people can be proud because this historic agreement is a tribute to American leadership. Over the past seven years, we've transformed the United States into the global leader in fighting climate change," Obama said.

He said the agreement was not perfect, but that it "establishes the enduring framework" to solve the climate crisis.

Barack Obama has said almost 200 countries "came together around the strong agreement the world needed" in agreeing a deal on climate change.

The US President said no agreement was perfect, including the Paris accord.

But he added that it was the best chance to save the planet.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has welcomed the historic climate change deal agreed in Paris - and said he hopes it will prompt the government to reverse cuts to clean energy.

Accusing Prime Minister David Cameron of "taking us backwards on climate change action", Mr Corbyn said the challenge now was to turn the words of the agreement into action.

The Friends of the Earth chief executive has warned the deal fell far short of the "soaring rhetoric" from 150 world leaders who attended the opening day of the talks.

There are tears and smiles as the climate change deal was agreed in Paris, ITV News Science Correspondent Alok Jha reports.

The International Monetary Fund chief has hailed the landmark agreement reached in Paris "a critical step forward" for addressing global climate change in the 21st century and said her key message is to "price carbon right."

Almost 200 countries have agreed to the terms of a new international deal to tackle climate change following United Nations talks in Paris.

The conference broke out into applause as French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius banged down his gavel, signalling almost 200 countries had formally signed up to the agreement, aimed at slowing the pace of global warming.

Read: Key points in the Paris climate change deal