US, Brazilian presidents discuss progress of climate conference

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama spoke by phone on Monday with his Brazilian counterpart, discussing ongoing progress in the Paris climate conference, the White House said.

"Both leaders emphasized their personal commitment to reach an ambitious climate change agreement and their interest in working together to drive success," the White House said in a press release.

They agreed to continue to stay in close touch as the conference continues.

Negotiators convened at the ongoing UN climate change conference in Paris are eyeing a post-2020 deal that will help to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than two degrees above pre-industrial levels.

A final draft of a new global climate agreement was reached by negotiators in Paris on Saturday, ready for ministers to read and deal with sensitive political divergences this week before the 12-day conference ends on Friday.

The draft, now running to 21 pages, consists of 26 articles covering different issues include emission reduction, adaptation, loss and damage, finance, technology and transparency of action and support.

Compared to the first version of the draft negotiators reached early this year in Geneva Switzerland, which runs to nearly 100 pages, the draft on Friday was more readable with fewer and clearer options for different issues.

The Paris agreement is expected to be the second legally-binding instrument under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty which obliges developed countries to take the lead in cutting carbon emission and providing financial support to developing countries. The first one was Kyoto Protocol, which set quantitative emission cutting targets for developed countries.