The Paris Agreement is an international treaty negotiated under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was adopted in December 2015 and entered into force on November 4, 2016. The agreement aims to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, while also pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Key elements of the Paris Agreement include …
Mitigation: Each participating country is required to submit and implement its own national climate action plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). These plans outline the country’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The agreement emphasizes the need for countries to regularly enhance their NDCs over time.
Transparency and Accountability: The Paris Agreement establishes a framework for transparency and reporting, requiring countries to regularly report on their emissions and implementation efforts. This promotes accountability and allows for tracking progress towards the global climate goals.
Finance: The agreement recognizes the importance of providing financial support to developing countries for both mitigation and adaptation efforts. Developed countries committed to mobilizing financial resources to support developing countries in their climate actions, with a goal of providing $100 billion annually by 2020, with a new goal to be set for the post-2025 period.
Adaptation: The Paris Agreement emphasizes the importance of enhancing the capacity of countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It encourages international cooperation and support for adaptation efforts, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and communities.
Technology Transfer: The agreement promotes the development and transfer of environmentally friendly technologies to support climate action, particularly in developing countries.
The Paris Agreement has been widely regarded as a significant global effort to address climate change. It has garnered support from the vast majority of countries, with 197 parties ratifying the agreement as of the end of 2020. The agreement provides a framework for international cooperation on climate change and sets the stage for ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.