The Paris Agreement is a landmark agreement that was adopted by all 195 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015. It aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
What is the current status of the Paris Agreement?
As of now, 189 countries have ratified the agreement, including major emitters such as China, India, and the United States. The only countries that have not ratified it are Iran, Iraq, Libya, South Sudan, Turkey, and Yemen.
The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4th, 2016 after it was ratified by at least 55 countries representing at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This milestone was achieved much faster than expected – just over a year after its adoption – which demonstrates the urgency and importance of addressing climate change.
What are some of the key provisions of the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement includes a number of key provisions aimed at achieving its goals. Some of these provisions include:
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each party is required to submit a plan outlining their intended contributions towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Transparency: Parties are required to regularly report on their emissions and progress towards achieving their NDCs.
- Finance: Developed countries are required to provide financial support to developing countries for both adaptation and mitigation efforts.
- Loss and Damage: The agreement recognizes that there will be unavoidable impacts from climate change and establishes a mechanism for addressing loss and damage caused by climate change.
The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
One major development since the adoption of the Paris Agreement has been the decision by the United States to withdraw from it. In June 2017, President Trump announced that the U.S. would be withdrawing from the agreement, citing concerns about its impact on U. jobs and economic growth.
The withdrawal process took several years and was only completed in November 2020 – one day after the U. presidential election. President-elect Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris Agreement as soon as he takes office in January 2021, which would restore U. participation in this critical international effort.
The way forward
The Paris Agreement represents a critical global effort to address climate change and limit its impacts on our planet and society. While progress has been made since its adoption, much more work remains to be done – particularly given the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19.
As we move forward, it will be important for all countries to continue working together towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and addressing this urgent global challenge. By doing so, we can help ensure a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet and all those who call it home.