World gearing up for the UN-led climate talks in Paris, heightened alert on

France said climate change remains a critical issue on the global agenda and will go ahead later this month despite wave of attacks in Paris. However, heightened security will be implemented to protect the participants from more than 195 countries, this includes the scaling down of climate protest around the city.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the 21^st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place as scheduled but with enhanced security measures in place—rallies will be cancelled, including concerts and public demonstrations.

More than 40,000 delegates, including heads of state, are expected to attend the climate talks in Paris, which run from November 30 to December 11.

Climate activists and various civil society groups, agree with the tighter security and safety of the participants. They, however, argue that mobilizations taking place in Paris and all over the world must be allowed with caution.

“ We will continue to mobilize to build a world free of wars, and atrocities, and the ravages of the climate crisis. We will continue to bring solutions and alternatives to fight against climate change,” the Coalition Climat 21, the umbrella organization for more than 130 groups, said in a statement. “ While taking into account the exceptional circumstances, we believe that COP21 can not take place without the participation or without the mobilizations of civil society in France. Thus, we will implement all our efforts to hold all the mobilizations currently planned. In consultation with the authorities, we will continue to ensure the security of all participants is guaranteed.”

Renee Karunungan, Communications Director of DAKILA, said “ the incident in Paris should not derail civil society organizations from pushing forward advocacies. They are important and crucial in order to have a climate agreement that is just and legally binding.”

Alice Jay, Campaign Director, Avaaz, on the other hand said that after the horrific attacks in Paris, the coalition organizing the Global Climate March met to discuss its next steps.

“ We reaffirmed our commitment to doing all we can to ensure that Paris will join cities around the world in hosting a safe, inspiring and open march on November 29th, and will be discussing possibilities with the authorities over the coming days,” she said.
Nicolas Haeringer, France Campaigner for 350.org, said: “The tragedy in Paris has only strengthened our resolve. This movement for climate justice has always also been a movement for peace–a way for people around the world to come together, no matter their background or religion, and fight to protect our common home.”

Haeringer added said, however, that no matter the final plans for the march in Paris, they urge people to join other Global Climate Marches around the world to show their solidarity and support.

Countries are expected to hammer out a global agreement that commits countries to cut its carbon emissions and to keep warming under 2 degrees Celsius to avert the impacts of climate change.