Obama, Modi committed to strong climate change agreement: WH

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minster Narendra Modi during their telephonic conversation emphasised their "personal commitment" to secure a strong climate change pact this week, the White House has said.
Obama telephoned Modi to discuss the ongoing Conference of Parties (COP21) at Paris, during which the Prime Minister also expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the California shooting last week.
"Both leaders emphasised their personal commitment to secure a strong climate change agreement this week and their interest in our countries' working together to achieve a successful outcome," the White House said in a readout of the phone call yesterday.

"The President, on behalf of the American people, accepted the Prime Minister's condolences for the loss of life in the San Bernardino shootings last week," the White House said.
A day earlier, Obama had spoken with his Brazilian counterpart.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters that the US President is closely following the developments in Paris where more than 180 countries are trying to hammer out a deal on climate change.

"I can tell you that earlier today, the (US) President placed a telephone call to Prime Minister Modi of India to discuss the ongoing negotiations," he said.

"I would anticipate that over the course of this week as the negotiations continue, the President would be in touch with other world leaders," he said, adding that Obama is getting regular updates from his team in Paris about the status of the negotiations.
In Paris last week, Obama had met Modi on the sidelines of the climate change summit. He had also met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Earnest said the US President is optimistic about the success of the Paris summit.
"Well, again, he is, but primarily for the reasons that he said when he was in Paris last week, which is even in advance of the Paris negotiations, we saw the international community mobilise to make significant commitments to cut carbon pollution," he said.