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So they've signed a historic climate deal in Paris, but what does it mean?

Photo: The adoption of a global warming pact was met with several minutes of applause from COP21 Climate Conference delegates, many of whom had worked for nearly two weeks to secure a deal. (AFP: Francois Guillot)

• The agreement was approved by all 195 countries who attended the summit and will commence in 2020
• It aims to transform the world's economy from dirty fossil fuels to renewables
• Importantly, it aims to slow the pace of global warming to "well below 2 degrees Celsius, perhaps 1.5" below pre-industrial levels
• It provides billions more dollars to help poor nations transition to a greener economy
• By the second half of the century the emissions from human activity must be matched by the amount being captured by carbon-absorbing sinks such as forests or carbon storage technology

But the agreement does not mandate specific measures or targets. Instead, it creates a system for ensuring countries make good on voluntary domestic efforts to curb emissions.

Read more highlights from the deal here

So, what does it mean for Australia?

Australia's target of a 26 to 28 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2030 has not changed.

But the Paris agreement will put pressure on the Government to do more.

Australia will have to review reduction targets every five years after the treaty comes into action in 2020 with each stocktake resulting in a more ambitious target.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said:

"No country would see this as the perfect outcome. Certainly it does not include everything that we envisaged. However, this agreement does give us a strategy to work over coming years and decades to build the strong and effective action the world needs."

Tiny island nations whose survival depends on the rest of the world taking action on climate change played an integral role in the summit. Marshall Islands foreign minister Tony de Brum summed up the last fortnight:

And just to recap, what is climate change, exactly?

Well, scientists have warned for decades that the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — largely from burning coal, oil and gas — would lead to more of the Sun's heat being trapped on Earth.

This year is shaping up to be the hottest year on record, with 2014 the previous record holder.

The coercive powers of the NSW Crime Commission are about to be tested in a court case launched by a teenage terror suspect

The ABC has obtained a court summons issued to a 16-year-old who is arguing he was denied natural justice by being called in to an interview.

His lawyers say their client's interests as a child were not taken into account.

"Being summoned to the Crime Commission has very significant legal consequences and particular consequences for our client as a child," solicitor Brad Mallinson said.

"We will argue in this case that children have special legal interests and rights and that our client should have been given a chance to say why the special powers of the Crime Commission shouldn't be used against him before the decision was made to summons him."

A phone connected to the teenager is alleged to have received a call from now-deceased terrorism recruiter Mohamed Baryalei. Police said they wanted to question the 16-year-old about his knowledge of the activities of terrorist groups and terror-related activities.

A full hearing into the teenager's case will be heard in February.

Media outlets in Saudi Arabia are reporting 17 women have been voted into public office in local government elections

The election is the first in which women were allowed to run as candidates and cast their vote.

In Saudi Arabia women are barred from driving and are legally dependent on a male relative to approve almost all their major life decisions.

Photo: The election was seen as a tentative step towards easing widespread sex discrimination in the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom. (AFP: STR)

However, the election wasn't for all council seats. It only included seats with no lawmaking or national powers and followed men-only polls in 2005 and 2011.

Before King Abdullah announced women would take part in this year's elections, the country's Grand Mufti, its most senior religious figure, described women's involvement in politics as "opening the door to evil".

A Monday morning alarm might be difficult but there's a great reason to set one tomorrow — Geminids meteor shower

Anytime between 1:00am to 4:00am (AEDT) Tuesday up to 150 meteors are expected to streak across the sky.

Here's some informaiton to help you see them:

• The Geminids will appear to radiate from a point just above the horizon, in the Gemini constellation
• The peak will be at 2:30am AEDT

Astronomer Doctor Ian Musgrave

"This year's event will be especially good because the Moon sets long before the radiant rises, but remember the more light pollution you have, the fewer meteors you'll see, so the further away from city lights the better."

And here's a map. The blue burst marks the spot:

Infographic: Map showing position of Geminid meteor shower (blue burst) for Sydney at 3AM AEDT Tuesday 15 December (Dr Ian Musgrave)

Here's what's coming up today:

• 12:00pm AEDT: The Liberal National Party State Executive is due to meet ro discuss federal MP Ian Macfalane's switch from the Liberals to the Nationals
• 6:00pm AEDT: The PM's Literary Awards get underway in Sydney. Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for the Arts Mitch Fifield will be there