Paris Agreement

Definition

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change, adopted in 2015, that aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It is a central component of global climate policy and a significant milestone in international cooperation to address the threat of climate change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty that was adopted by 196 countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21).
2. The agreement's central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5°C.
3. Each country that has signed the Paris Agreement is required to set and regularly update national climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline their strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. The Paris Agreement emphasizes the need for global cooperation and support, particularly for developing countries, to adapt to the impacts of climate change and transition to low-carbon economies.
5. The agreement also establishes a framework for financial, technological, and capacity-building support to help countries implement their climate action plans and achieve their emissions reduction targets.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Paris Agreement relates to the categorization of public policy, particularly in the context of environmental and climate change policy.
  • The Paris Agreement is a significant piece of international public policy that aims to address the global challenge of climate change. As a multilateral treaty, it represents a collective effort by nations to coordinate and implement policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The agreement's focus on national climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), demonstrates how public policy can be categorized at the national level, while the international cooperation and support mechanisms established by the agreement illustrate the cross-cutting nature of climate policy across different levels of government and sectors of society.
• Analyze how the Paris Agreement fits into the broader context of foreign policy, particularly in terms of international cooperation and diplomacy on environmental issues.
  • The Paris Agreement is a landmark achievement in international diplomacy and foreign policy. By bringing together nearly all the world's nations to collectively address the threat of climate change, the agreement represents a significant shift in global priorities and a recognition of the transnational nature of environmental challenges. The agreement's emphasis on financial, technological, and capacity-building support for developing countries highlights the importance of North-South cooperation and the role of foreign aid and development assistance in addressing global environmental issues. Moreover, the ongoing negotiations and reviews of national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement framework demonstrate how foreign policy can be used to facilitate international cooperation and hold countries accountable for their climate commitments.
• Evaluate the potential long-term impacts of the Paris Agreement on global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and discuss how its success or failure could shape the future of international environmental policy and diplomacy.
  • The success or failure of the Paris Agreement will have profound implications for the future of global climate action and international environmental policy. If the agreement is effectively implemented, with countries meeting or exceeding their emissions reduction targets and providing the necessary support for adaptation and mitigation efforts, it could serve as a model for deeper international cooperation and more ambitious global environmental governance. However, if the agreement's goals are not met, it could undermine trust in multilateral institutions and international diplomacy, and lead to a fragmented, uncoordinated approach to addressing climate change. The long-term impacts of the Paris Agreement will depend on factors such as technological innovation, the mobilization of financial resources, and the political will of national governments to prioritize climate action over short-term economic interests. Ultimately, the agreement's legacy will shape the trajectory of global efforts to mitigate and adapt to the existential threat of climate change.

Related terms

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The international environmental treaty that provides a framework for intergovernmental efforts to address climate change, of which the Paris Agreement is a part.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Climate action plans submitted by countries that outline their strategies and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.

Carbon Neutrality: The state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, achieved by balancing emissions with carbon removal or simply eliminating carbon emissions altogether.