The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is an international treaty on climate change that aims to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement was a result of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Paris, France.
The Paris Agreement is a historic achievement, as it is the first-ever universal, legally binding agreement on climate change. It is a culmination of years of discussions, negotiations, and efforts by governments, civil society, and the private sector to address the urgent need to combat climate change.
The agreement sets out a range of actions and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy use, and enhancing climate adaptation and resilience. It also establishes a transparent system for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
One of the key features of the Paris Agreement is the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are the voluntary pledges that each country makes to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These pledges are reviewed every five years to ensure that they are ambitious and aligned with the overall goal of the agreement.
Another important aspect of the Paris Agreement is the provision of financial and technical support for developing countries to help them transition to a low-carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Developed countries have committed to providing $100 billion per year by 2020 to support these efforts.
The Paris Agreement has been hailed as a major step forward in the global fight against climate change. However, it is not without its challenges and criticisms. Some argue that the current NDCs are not ambitious enough to achieve the temperature goals of the agreement, and that more needs to be done to ensure that all countries are contributing their fair share.
Despite these challenges, the Paris Agreement remains a critical tool in the fight against climate change, and its implementation will be essential in ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for all.