Paris Agreement

Definition

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty adopted in 2015 that aims to address climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an aim to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This agreement marks a significant step in global efforts to mitigate climate change impacts and promotes cooperation among nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Paris Agreement encourages countries to set their own emissions reduction targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are updated every five years to reflect increased ambition.
2. Developed countries committed to providing $100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change through the Green Climate Fund.
3. The agreement operates on a framework of transparency and accountability, requiring countries to report on their emissions and progress towards their goals.
4. One of the key goals of the Paris Agreement is to enhance adaptive capacity to climate change impacts, especially for vulnerable populations and ecosystems.
5. As of now, almost every country in the world has ratified the Paris Agreement, making it one of the most widely embraced environmental treaties in history.

Review Questions

• How does the Paris Agreement facilitate global cooperation among nations to address climate change?
  • The Paris Agreement fosters global cooperation by creating a framework for countries to collectively commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while allowing them the flexibility to set their own targets through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This approach encourages nations to share strategies, technologies, and financial resources, promoting collaboration toward shared goals. Additionally, the regular review process every five years ensures that countries can assess progress and ramp up their commitments as necessary.
• What role do Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) play within the context of the Paris Agreement?
  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are critical components of the Paris Agreement as they outline each country's individual pledges for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By allowing nations to tailor their contributions based on national circumstances and capabilities, NDCs promote inclusivity and encourage participation from all countries. The commitment to update these contributions every five years ensures that nations progressively enhance their climate action efforts and remain accountable for their commitments.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement in achieving its goal of limiting global warming and discuss potential improvements for future climate negotiations.
  • The effectiveness of the Paris Agreement can be evaluated by examining its ability to mobilize global efforts towards emission reductions. While it has succeeded in uniting nearly all nations under a common goal, actual progress toward limiting temperature rise has been slow. Improvements for future negotiations could include establishing legally binding targets for emissions reductions, enhancing financial support for developing countries, and implementing stricter accountability measures to ensure compliance with NDCs. Strengthening these aspects could lead to more significant action and quicker results in addressing climate change.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country’s self-defined plan to reduce national emissions and adapt to climate change as part of their commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Climate Finance: Financial resources allocated to support climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, particularly in developing countries, often as a result of international agreements like the Paris Agreement.