20:05

I just caught Izabella Teixeira, Brazil’s environment minister, leaving the meeting. After such a long slog, she was unabashedly emotional, welling up in tears when she talked about getting the deal across the finish line.

“I think it’s really, really an historic moment,” she said. “Finally we are moving to actions and not just talking problems. This is a decision based on solutions … We are not only discussing the past. We are looking to the future. What we have today is an historic moment, in a friendly atmosphere, and I feel a new confidence in the political world’s ability to deal with climate change.”

In Teiexeira’s view, the structure of the deal with its regular five-year reviews, will encourage global co-operation to find technological solutions to cut emissions and protect poor countries from climate change.

She said she was optimistic improved technology would help countries deliver on the ambitious goals in the agreement.

She also hoped that the agreement would encourage more funding for scientific research in Brazil and at the global.

But the most important shift for her was the prospect of changing the conversation around climate change from describing impacts and challenges to moving towards testing solutions.

“I am really happy. This is so transformative. This is so important for our national development,” she said.

