Story highlights Hillary Clinton said the next decade is "critical" for implementing the agreement and tackling climate change

Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said the agreement was a step forward, but not enough to tackle climate change

Washington (CNN) Hillary Clinton quickly lauded Saturday's agreement of a global climate change pact in Paris, calling it an important step in protecting the planet, though her foremost challenger, Bernie Sanders, said he was unimpressed by the deal.

The deal creates a goal of halting average warming at no more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial temperatures, and striving for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius if possible.

Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, hailed the agreement in a statement, saying, "I applaud President Obama, Secretary Kerry and our negotiating team for helping deliver a new, ambitious international climate agreement in Paris."

She adds that the next decade is "critical" for implementing the agreement and tackling climate change.

"We cannot afford to be slowed by the climate skeptics or deterred by the defeatists who doubt America's ability to meet this challenge," she said.

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