World leaders must agree to cut carbon emissions at a UN summit in December because the climate is changing faster than efforts to curb global warming, US President Barack Obama has said during a visit to Alaska.
World leaders must agree to cut carbon emissions at a UN summit in December because the climate is changing faster than efforts to curb global warming, US President Barack Obama has said during a visit to Alaska.
The three-day visit is aimed at highlighting the state's melting permafrost and eroding coastlines.
During the visit, US President Barack Obama will trek with British TV adventurer Bear Grylls to observe the effects of climate change on the area.
Obama is trying to build support for tough new rules on carbon emissions from power plants ahead of a hoped-for international climate deal at a UN summit in Paris in December.
Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Alaska, Obama said: "Climate is changing faster than our efforts to address it. That ladies and gentleman must change. We're not acting fast enough.
"This year, in Paris, has to be the year that the world finally reaches an agreement to protect the one planet that we've got while we still can."
President Barack Obama recorded a video urging for more to be done to protect the landscape from the effects of climate change.
The island of Kivalina in Alaska is quickly disappearing into the ocean, watched by its 400 residents, due to climate change.