SBS World News Radio: World leaders attend a climate conference in Morocco amid uncertainty around how the election of Donald Trump as US president will affect the deal's future.
Global officials say it is inevitable the world will move towards more sustainable forms of energy, in order to try and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Almost 200 nations are attending a United Nations conference on global warming in Marrakesh, Morocco.
It is the first such meeting of nations who have approved a 2015 accord on climate change, after almost two decades of negotiations.
Welcoming delegates, Morocco's King Mohamed has urged them to take immediate action.
"Wait and see - attitudes and negligence when addressing climate change and its effects will lead to dire consequences, jeopardising security and stability and exacerbating the already expanding hotspots of tension and crises throughout the world. In the name of our shared destiny and in the name of our historic responsibility, I urge all parties to work on translating our commitment to the values of justice and solidarity into actions."
A partnership for developing nations has been announced, to enhance their access to expertise and financial support as well as help to boost their own strategies.
At least 33 governments have signed up to back the initiative, with several promising funding.
Australia says it will focus on improving farming and forest management in the Indo-Pacific region, pledging $2 million over two years.
But some countries have raised questions over how the recent U-S election will impact on the Paris agreement.
French President Francois Hollande has pleaded with the United States to abide by its previous commitment agreed in Paris last August.
"The Paris agreement is the work of all of us, it belongs to all of us, it depends on all of us, it's in the interest of all of us. The role of Barack Obama was crucial in order to get an agreement in Paris. Notably within the framework of decisions that were taken with respect to China and other countries. The United States, first economic power in the world and second largest emitter of greenhouse gases must respect the commitments that were made."
U-S President-elect Donald Trump has publicly expressed his scepticism of climate change, calling it a "hoax" and vowing to "cancel" the Paris deal.
He has also talked about boosting domestic energy industries, contradicting Barack Obama's plan to cut greenhouse emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, says it's too soon to tell what changes will be made under a Trump presidency.
"Well evidently, the new president has only just been elected and there is a transition period before the inauguration. So it's too early to tell what specific policies will be from the new US administration. But we look forward to opportunities to work closely with the president-elect and his transition team. But more particularly with the new administration."
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he hopes Mr Trump will come to appreciate the seriousness of the situation.
"As the president of the United States, I am sure that he will understand this, he will listen and he will evaluate his campaign remarks. We have seen many such campaign rhetoric not only in the United States, in many parts of the world. But as President Obama said in his press conference yesterday, that he (Trump) may have to understand the reality, the reality of the whole world's problems including, particularly, on climate change. I am sure that he will make a good and wise decision."
