Has the Paris Agreement Worked?

By Robert Palmer

The Paris Agreement is a global agreement signed in 2015 with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and limiting the rise in global temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The deal was adopted by 196 countries and it came into effect on November 4, 2016.

But has the Paris Agreement worked? Let’s take a closer look.

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was negotiated by representatives from countries all over the world at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) held in Paris, France in December 2015. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Has it worked so far?

Since its adoption, much progress has been made towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), greenhouse gas emissions fell by an estimated 7% globally in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, which is close to what would be needed every year for the next decade under the Paris Agreement.

However, despite this drop in emissions, we are still not on track to meet the goals of limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. In fact, according to a report by Climate Action Tracker, current national pledges under the Paris Agreement are not sufficient and could still lead to a rise in temperatures of around 3°C above pre-industrial levels.

The challenges ahead

One of the biggest challenges facing implementation of the Paris Agreement is lack of political will from some countries. The United States withdrew from the agreement during Donald Trump’s presidency but has since rejoined under President Joe Biden. Other countries have also failed to meet their emissions Targets.

Another challenge is the lack of funding for developing countries to transition to a low-carbon economy. The Paris Agreement established the Green Climate Fund to help finance projects in developing countries, but it has not been fully funded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while progress has been made towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, there is still much work to be done. The world needs more ambitious climate action and political will from all countries to limit global warming and prevent catastrophic climate change. The Paris Agreement is an important step in the right direction, but it’s just the beginning of a long journey towards a sustainable future.