French president in Iceland to see global warming's damage
Source: AP
PARIS (AP) The French president took a few steps on an Icelandic glacier Friday to experience firsthand the damage caused by global warming, ahead of major U.N. talks on climate change in Paris this year.
Francois Hollande went to the shrinking Solheimajokull glacier, where the ice has retreated by more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) since annual measurements began in 1931.
The melting of Iceland's glaciers increases flood risks and may threaten its electricity supply, which is primarily generated by water power.
Hollande said he is "confident" about the chances to reach an agreement at Paris' climate talks, aiming at keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
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France's President Francois Hollande, right, and Environment Minister Segolene Royal, pose on the Solheimajokull glacier, where the ice has retreated by more than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), during a State visit in Iceland, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015. Francois Hollande is in Iceland to experience firsthand the damage caused by global warming, ahead of major U.N. talks on climate change in Paris this year. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, Pool)
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