The Latest: Hollande meets African leaders on climate needs
By Associated Press
Dec 1, 2015 2:54 AM CST
An artwork entitled 'One Heart One Tree' by artist Naziha Mestaoui is displayed on the Eiffel tower as part of the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)   (Associated Press)

LE BOURGET, France (AP) — The latest news from the U.N. climate conference in Paris, which runs through Dec. 11. All times local:

9:45 a.m.

French President Francois Hollande is holding talks with African leaders about what their countries need to cope with and reduce global warming.

The meeting Tuesday is part of broader international diplomatic efforts toward a possible long-term accord for all countries to cut man-made carbon emissions. Those emissions produce heat-trapping gases and scientists say are causing glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise and leading to more and more droughts and other extreme weather.

Hollande hosted President Barack Obama and 149 other world dignitaries Monday to kick off two weeks of U.N.-led climate talks outside Paris. The leaders agreed that something must be done to protect the planet for future generations, but now must overcome disagreements over who should shoulder the economic responsibility for cutting emissions and protecting countries already hit by climate change.

___

9:15 a.m.

Envoys at the Paris climate conference say governments and companies need to do more to protect forests, which can help slow global warming.

Prince Charles, South American indigenous leaders and other dignitaries are holding a special meeting Tuesday to call attention to shrinking global forests from South America to Russia and Africa.

Peru's Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal told reporters ahead of the meeting that companies too need to do their part to limit deforestation. Envoys are urging greater efforts against illegal logging.

The world's forests play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide released by man-made emissions from burning oil, gas and coal.

The meeting is part of two weeks of U.N.-led talks aimed at a worldwide, long-term accord to cut human-made emissions blamed for climate change.