What Did the Paris Agreement of 2015 Do?

By Robert Palmer

The Paris Agreement of 2015, also known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is an international treaty that aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris on December 12, 2015. Let’s take a closer look at what this important agreement accomplished.

Background

Before we dive into the specifics of the Paris Agreement, it’s important to understand why such an agreement was necessary in the first place. The Earth’s climate is changing rapidly due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to rising sea levels, more frequent heatwaves and droughts, and more intense storms. The consequences of not addressing climate change are dire: increased poverty and food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, and displacement of millions of people.

The Key Elements

The Paris Agreement has several key elements that make it an effective tool for combating climate change:

  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each party sets its own emission reduction Targets called NDCs. These are reviewed every five years to ensure progress is being made towards meeting the goals of the agreement.
  • Global Stocktake: Every five years, a review is conducted to assess collective progress towards meeting the goals of the agreement.
  • Transparency Framework: A system is established for reporting and reviewing progress towards meeting NDCs.
  • Adaptation: Parties are encouraged to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
  • Finance: Developed countries are required to provide financial support to developing countries for both mitigation and adaptation measures.

Impact

The Paris Agreement has been hailed as a historic turning point in the fight against climate change. By bringing together nearly all of the world’s countries to address a common problem, it sends a powerful message that the world is serious about tackling climate change. The agreement has also spurred action at the local level, with cities, states, and businesses committing to ambitious emissions reductions goals.

However, there is still much work to be done. The current NDCs are not enough to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the United States, one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, withdrew from the agreement in 2020 under the Trump administration. However, President Biden rejoined on his first day in office.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Paris Agreement of 2015 is a landmark achievement in global efforts to combat climate change. Its key elements provide a framework for action that can help limit global warming and protect our planet for future generations. While there is still much work to be done, the agreement represents an important step forward in addressing one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today.