One day after the Jan 31st deadline, 67 countries have signed the United Nations climate agreement aiming to reduce global carbon emissions and fund adaptation measures in developing countries.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the signatories so far include China, the United States and the EU, make up 78 percent of global emissions. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a science-based nonprofit organization based in the US state of Massachusetts.

Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said: “The commitment to confront climate change at the highest level is beyond doubt.”

January's deadline is not mandatory, according to the UN. The next round of formal negotiations is scheduled to be in Bonn, Germany, at the end of May.

The Copenhagen Accord, unveiled at the climate summit in that city in December, asked both developed and developing countries to indicate their support and emission reduction targets before Jan 31.

Goals on reducing greenhouse gases announced by major industrialized nations are a step forward. But UN officials say it’s not enough to forestall the disastrous effects of climate change by mid-century. The steps, they say, will not stop the earth’s temperature from rising two degrees Celsius.

The goal is to keep the Earth's average temperature from rising two degrees Celsius above the levels that existed before nations began industrializing in the late 18th century. It would be no more than 1.3 degrees C (2.3 degrees F) above today's average temperatures.

Questions:

1. How many countries have signed the UN climate agreement to reduce global carbon emissions?

2. What two leading polluters are among the countries that signed the climate agreement?

3. Will these steps be enough to stop climate change?

Answers:

1. Scientists say 67 countries have signed the United Nations climate agreement aiming to reduce global carbon emissions and fund adaptation measures in developing countries.

2. China and the United States are among the signatories.

3. No. UN officials say the disastrous effects of climate change will still be felt by mid-century, even with the agreement in place.

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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.