The Paris Climate Conference, also known as COP21, was a major global summit held in Paris, France from November 30 to December 12, 2015. The conference was organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and brought together representatives from 195 countries to negotiate a new international agreement on climate change.
The Goals of the Paris Climate Conference
The main goal of the Paris Climate Conference was to agree on a plan to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This is widely seen as the threshold beyond which dangerous and irreversible climate changes could occur.
Another goal of the conference was to ensure that all countries contribute to this effort in a fair and equitable manner. This is particularly important given that developing countries have historically contributed less to climate change but are likely to suffer disproportionately from its impacts.
The Outcome of the Paris Climate Conference
After two weeks of intense negotiations, representatives from all 195 countries agreed on the Paris Agreement – a landmark deal that set out a global action plan for addressing climate change.
Some of the key elements of the Paris Agreement include:
- Temperature Goal: The agreement aims to limit global warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an aspiration to limit it even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
- National Contributions: Each country is required to submit an emissions reduction Target – known as a “nationally determined contribution” or NDC – every five years. These Targets should reflect each country’s “highest possible ambition,” but are not legally binding.
- Transparency and Accountability: The agreement includes measures for tracking progress towards meeting these Targets and reviewing them every five years.
Countries will also be required to report regularly on their emissions and progress towards their Targets.
- Finance: Developed countries are required to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them transition to a low-carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The agreement sets a goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020, with a commitment to increase this amount in the future.
The Significance of the Paris Climate Agreement
The Paris Agreement is widely seen as a historic achievement in international climate diplomacy. It represents the first time that all countries – developed and developing alike – have agreed to take action on climate change.
The agreement is also significant because it sends a strong signal to global markets and investors that the world is committed to transitioning to a low-carbon economy. This could help drive investment in clean energy technologies and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.
However, many experts have also noted that the Paris Agreement is just the beginning of a long and difficult journey towards achieving its goals. Countries will need to rapidly ramp up their efforts to reduce emissions if they are going to meet the temperature Targets outlined in the agreement.
The Bottom Line
The Paris Climate Conference was a historic moment for global efforts to address climate change. The Paris Agreement sets out an ambitious global action plan for limiting global warming and transitioning towards a low-carbon economy.
However, achieving these goals will require sustained effort and cooperation from all countries over many years. The world must continue working together towards this common goal if we hope to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.