---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as…"
description: "\"I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting point. If you look at all the commitments that have been made by all the countries, it's still not..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg"
---

#  I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting…

![“I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting point. If you look at all the commitments that have been made by all the countries, it's still not sufficient to deal with the very dangerous situation we face. What it has done is that it created an architecture whereby as technology improves…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg)

> “I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting point. If you look at all the commitments that have been made by all the countries, it's still not sufficient to deal with the very dangerous situation we face. What it has done is that it created an architecture whereby as technology improves, as we find new clean sources of energy, as we make our economies more efficient, then gradually we can turn up the dial and improve the outcomes of Paris.”

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Paris Agreement is a foundation that can be strengthened over time as technology and efficiency improve, allowing progressive climate solutions.

**In simple terms:** Paris sets a base, but ongoing advances are needed.

Key Takeaway

Leverage tech and policy to enhance climate commitments.

Themes

climate policy technology progress global cooperation

Mood

hopeful urgent

Type

environmental strategic

When to use this quote

- government negotiations
- energy sector reforms
- public awareness campaigns

Key Concepts

sustainability innovation incremental improvement

Questions to Reflect On

- What immediate steps can complement long‑term tech solutions?
- How can nations be held accountable for incremental progress?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on future tech may delay immediate action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Dangerous situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-situations/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [Starting point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-point/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [The good news is that the Paris Agreement is not just a bilateral agreement between the United States and some other country. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-good-news-is-that-the-paris-agreement-is-not-just-a-bilateral/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [What the Paris agreement now does is say to China and India and other countries that are potentially polluting, come on board. Let's work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-the-paris-agreement-now-does-is-say-to-china-and-india-and-other/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [For half of the world's population, roughly three billion people around the world living on less than two dollars a day, an election is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/for-half-of-the-world-s-population-roughly-three-billion-people/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I believe that the starting point of faith is some doubt, not bein' so full of yourself and so confident that you are right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-believe-that-the-starting-point-of-faith-is-some-doubt-not-bein-so/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [When Americans are called on to innovate, that's what we do - whether it's making more fuel-efficient cars or more fuel-efficient appliances, or making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/when-americans-are-called-on-to-innovate-that-s-what-we-do-whether-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“Luckily, common sense had never been a strong suit of mine and my feet moved faster than my brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mcintyre/luckily-common-sense-had-never-been-a-strong-suit-of-mine-and-my-feet/)

[Katherine McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mcintyre/)

> [When excesses such as lax lending standards become widespread and persist for some time, people are lulled into a false sense of security, creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/when-excesses-such-as-lax-lending-standards-become-widespread-and/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [When you start to kind of immerse yourself in that improvisation culture, you gotta be comfortable enough with your instrument to throw yourself into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-patton/when-you-start-to-kind-of-immerse-yourself-in-that-improvisation/)

[Mike Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-patton/)

> [The most irascible person is most likely to become apathetic in dangerous situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-most-irascible-person-is-most-likely-to-become-apathetic-in/)

[Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/)

> [I like to be with my back against the wall in dangerous situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-alvarez/i-like-to-be-with-my-back-against-the-wall-in-dangerous-situations/)

[Eddie Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-alvarez/)

> [“The main thing that gets us men into dangerous situations is, well, ourselves. It's the belief, cherished in the heart of every man in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-borgenicht/the-main-thing-that-gets-us-men-into-dangerous-situations-is-well/)

David Borgenicht

> [I fare the best when I'm in dangerous situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-alvarez/i-fare-the-best-when-i-m-in-dangerous-situations/)

[Eddie Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-alvarez/)

> [I think being a woman alone enhanced the impulse in others to be generous. What we're told is that to be a woman alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/i-think-being-a-woman-alone-enhanced-the-impulse-in-others-to-be/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

> [No money, no place to live – I’ve been in more dangerous situations than other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/no-money-no-place-to-live-i-ve-been-in-more-dangerous-situations-than/)

[Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/)

> [The most serious problem facing humankind is climate change. All of these people breathing and burning our atmosphere has led to an extraordinarily dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/the-most-serious-problem-facing-humankind-is-climate-change-all-of/)

[Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/)

## More by Barack Obama

> [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

## More Agreement quotes

> [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/)

[Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/)

> [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/)

[John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/)

> [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/)

[M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. Gaia's main problem is the lack of mutual understanding and mutual agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/gaia-s-main-problems-are-not-industrialization-ozone-depletion/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/)

[Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/)

> [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Whatever you perceive, you always make a story with yourself as the main character, and that dictates your life. Then when you read 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/whatever-you-perceive-you-always-make-a-story-with-yourself-as-the/)

[Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/)

> [ Look at what I am proposing, and we \[wih Bernie Sanders\] have a vigorous agreement here. We both want to reign in the excesses… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/look-at-what-i-am-proposing-and-we-wih-bernie-sanders-have-a-vigorous/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Netanyahu made all sorts of claims. This was going to be a terrible deal. This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

[Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting point. If you look at all the commitments that have been made by all the countries, it's still not sufficient to deal with the very dangerous situation we face. What it has done is that it created an architecture whereby as technology improves, as we find new clean sources of energy, as we make our economies more efficient, then gradually we can turn up the dial and improve the outcomes of Paris.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Barack Obama"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-as-a-starting-point-if-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agreement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-as-a-starting-point-if-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/barack-obama-17_agreement_i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-a_2401215.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've always viewed the Paris Agreement as a starting point. If you look at all the commitments that have…” — Barack Obama",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Barack Obama",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've always viewed the Paris Agreement...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-as-a-starting-point-if-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-ve-always-viewed-the-paris-agreement-as-a-starting-point-if-you/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
