UN summit rides Paris accord momentum

The 2016 annual UN climate change conference began on Monday in Africa. The mood of the important event in Marrakech will be high given that the landmark Paris global climate treaty, agreed last December in a diplomatic breakthrough, came into effect on Nov 4.

The speed with which the Paris deal has come into force - which required at least 55 countries accounting for a minimum of 55 per cent of global emissions ratifying it - compared to other international treaties partially reflects concerns about the US presidential election given that Donald Trump has argued that climate change is a "hoax" and that he wishes to reverse the US ratification and see the Paris deal dismantled.

Mr Trump's argument is reckless given the strong scientific consensus on global warming and its potentially calamitous perils. And there is little doubt that if the controversial billionaire is elected to the presidency, it would be damaging to overall global attempts to tackle climate change.