The Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted on December 12, 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France. The agreement aims to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It represents a global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The Paris Agreement sets out several key objectives to address climate change:
Under the Paris Agreement, each country is required to submit and regularly update its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). NDCs are national plans that outline the country's climate actions, including targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strategies for adapting to climate impacts. Countries must report on their progress towards achieving their NDCs and update them every five years to reflect increasing ambition.
The Paris Agreement establishes a process called the Global Stocktake, which occurs every five years to assess collective progress towards achieving the agreement's long-term goals. The stocktake aims to inform and enhance the implementation of NDCs, ensuring that countries continuously increase their climate ambitions.
Developed countries committed to providing financial resources to help developing countries implement their NDCs and adapt to climate change impacts. The goal is to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 and extend this support through 2025. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is one of the key mechanisms for channeling climate finance to developing countries.
The Paris Agreement establishes an enhanced transparency framework to ensure accountability and build trust among countries. This framework requires countries to regularly report on their greenhouse gas emissions, progress towards NDCs, and climate adaptation efforts. Independent technical experts review these reports to assess progress and provide recommendations.
The agreement encourages countries to take national measures to implement their NDCs and comply with the treaty's provisions. While the Paris Agreement does not have legally binding enforcement mechanisms, it relies on transparency, peer pressure, and international cooperation to ensure compliance and promote ambition.
The Paris Agreement is significant for several reasons:
While the Paris Agreement is a landmark achievement, it faces several challenges:
Despite these challenges, the Paris Agreement remains a cornerstone of global climate action, providing a framework for countries to work together towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty that aims to combat climate change by limiting global warming and enhancing resilience to its impacts. Through Nationally Determined Contributions, financial support, and regular progress assessments, the agreement encourages countries to take ambitious climate actions. While it faces challenges, the Paris Agreement represents a critical step towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
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