Obama leaves for Paris Climate Summit, to meet PM Modi today

U.S. President Barack Obama left for Paris to attend the Climate Change Conference (COP21) where he will join around 150 world leaders on the opening day of the Summit.

The President boarded the Air Force One as he departed from the Joint Base Andrews in Washington.

Obama, who after the 13/11 carnage has joined France in the war against ISIS, is likely to pay tribute to the victims of the attacks during his trip.

Earlier, the White House announced that Obama will be meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Summit.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said that Obama would meet Modi on the opening day of the Summit and will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the start of the two-week climate change conference.

"We have been engaging with India throughout the year in determining how they can contribute constructively to a successful outcome in Paris," Rhodes told reporters.

He asserted that the US wanted to be clear with 'key players' China, India and France as they are important for forging a strong international agreement on climate change.

Earlier, Obama and Modi have had discussions on the same issue during the US President's trip to India, the bilateral meeting in New York at the UN General Assembly.