Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change, aimed at reducing global warming and its many detrimental effects. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.

Background

The Paris Agreement was negotiated by representatives of 196 states at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Paris and adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015. It was opened for signature on 22 April 2016 (Earth Day) at a ceremony in New York.

Objectives

The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, it seeks to increase the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change and make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

Key Features

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each party to the agreement must prepare, communicate, and maintain successive nationally determined contributions that it intends to achieve. Parties will submit their NDCs every five years to the UNFCCC.
• Global Stocktake: Every five years, a global stocktake will be conducted to assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Agreement and its long-term goals. The first stocktake will take place in 2023.
• Transparency and Accountability: The Agreement sets out a transparency framework to provide clarity on actions taken by countries. This includes reporting and review processes that will promote trust and accountability.
• Financial Support: Developed country Parties should provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation in continuation of their existing obligations under the UNFCCC.

Implementation

The Paris Agreement works on a 5-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. By 2020, countries were expected to submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Challenges and Criticisms

While the Paris Agreement is a landmark in the international climate change process, it has faced criticism for not being legally binding and for not having strong enough mechanisms to ensure countries meet their commitments. Additionally, there are concerns about the adequacy of the commitments made by countries to meet the ambitious goals of the Agreement.

Future Prospects

The success of the Paris Agreement depends on the commitment and action of all countries. Future negotiations and climate actions will determine whether the world can achieve its climate goals and transition towards a sustainable and climate-resilient future.