As the world grows increasingly concerned about climate change, the Paris Agreement has become a critical topic of discussion. This landmark agreement was adopted in 2015 by 196 parties at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Paris Agreement has set the goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.
With much debate and controversy, the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2017, but the remaining countries are resolute in their determination to take climate action. Here are some important facts to know about the Paris Agreement:
1. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise: The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Countries have set their own goals: Each country that is a party to the Paris Agreement has set its own goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These goals are called “nationally determined contributions” or NDCs.
3. The Paris Agreement isn’t legally binding: While the Paris Agreement is an important global agreement, it is not legally binding. Instead, it relies on countries to report their progress toward their NDCs and engage in regular global stocktaking to assess progress toward the collective goal.
4. The Paris Agreement has a goal for climate finance: One of the key components of the Paris Agreement is the goal of mobilizing $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020 to support developing countries in their climate efforts.
5. The Paris Agreement has several mechanisms to drive action: The Paris Agreement includes several mechanisms to drive climate action, including a transparency framework to track progress, regular global stocktaking to assess progress toward the collective goal, and a mechanism to encourage countries to increase their NDCs every five years.
6. The Paris Agreement has been ratified by almost every country: As of 2021, 191 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement. This includes all the countries in the European Union, as well as countries like China, India, and Russia.
As the world continues to grapple with climate change, the Paris Agreement remains a key tool in the fight against global warming. While progress towards its goals has been slow in some areas, the agreement provides a platform for countries to work together towards a sustainable future.