This editorial ran first in the Winnipeg Free Press:

The climate accord signed in Paris on the weekend has rightly been described as a tipping point in the long-suffering debate on global warming. It's unclear if the agreement signed by 195 nations will tip the planet in the right direction in time to stave off disaster, but at least there was acknowledgment of the problem and the need to act.

The signatories agreed to embrace green technology and reduce carbon emissions to prevent the mercury from rising more than two degrees C above pre-industrial levels by mid-century. Everyone agreed they should strive for a ceiling of 1.5 degrees.

There were no hard targets, just an agreement everyone would try their best and report back on their success (or lack of it) in three years, and every five years after that. It's hoped this "name and shame" approach will succeed in compelling the participants to act decisively.

But even if every country does its best, it still might not be enough to reverse the warming trend, many scientists said.

"It's just worthless words," said scientist James Hansen, the so-called father of global awareness of climate change. "There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned."

The cynics, however, are ignoring the historic breakthrough that was achieved during 12 days of intense talks in Paris. For the first time since serious talks on climate change started 25 years ago, the world's nations agreed to take action to reduce their individual carbon footprints.

That includes nations rich and poor, large and small, including the United States, China and India, three of the world's largest polluters that historically have been reluctant to sign international accords requiring them to acknowledge their responsibility.

Despite the optimism and sense of accomplishment, there were no rose-coloured glasses in the final draft of the accord. It admits, for example, climate change is "potentially irreversible" and deep reductions in global emissions will be required to stabilize the climate.

The accord "notes with concern" even if every state does what it has promised to do, the world may still pass the two-degree limit that is considered a point of no return for global disaster.

The agreement, then, is just the beginning of a process that must ultimately lead to steeper cuts in emissions and new ways of producing energy.

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given himself 90 days to develop a comprehensive plan in co-operation with the provinces, including a carbon tax.

Alberta has already shown leadership on the climate file, but what will it do if oil prices rebound and the demand for Alberta crude soars, offering the promise of economic renewal and thousands of new jobs?

Indeed, this is the challenge of every country. What will politicians do when climate responsibility interferes with short-term economic gain?

The problem is more acute in the United States, where congressional Republicans have made it clear they will never sign anything that weakens the economy. Indeed, they do not even acknowledge climate change is man-made or the temperature can be manipulated by anything they do.

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The Paris accord, however, has accelerated the campaign for change, which will make it increasingly difficult for individual nations, political leaders and polluters to resist.

It's not a perfect agreement and the skeptics can be forgiven, particularly after the failure of the 1997 Kyoto accord and its promise of a greener future. The latest deal, however, involves a wider array of nations who united in recognition of the fact the world is in trouble.