The Paris Agreement on Climate Change is a global response to climate change adopted in 2015. Key provisions include limiting global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, pursuing efforts toward 1.5 degrees, nationally determined contributions, transparency and accountability measures, financial support for developing countries, addressing loss and damage from climate impacts, enhanced capacity building, and regular global stocktakes. The agreement stresses the importance of implementation and support, with developed countries taking the lead. Its success relies on international cooperation and continuous efforts to combat climate change.
The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Key Provisions
The Paris Agreement is a global response to the urgent need for action on climate change. It was adopted by 195 countries at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) in December 2015. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Here are the key provisions of the Paris Agreement:
Long-Term Goal
The primary objective of the Paris Agreement is to strengthen the 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 to 1.5°C. This goal recognizes the significant difference in impacts between a 1.5°C and a 2°C world.
National Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Each country commits to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These are voluntary targets that each country sets for itself, which can be updated and increased over time. NDCs are intended to reflect the highest possible ambition and are subject to a "ratchet mechanism" that encourages countries to increase their ambition over time.
Transparency and Accountability
The agreement includes a robust transparency framework to track progress. Countries are required to report regularly on their emissions and on their efforts to implement and update their NDCs. A technical expert review team will assess these reports, ensuring an element of accountability in the process.
Finance
Developed countries have committed to mobilizing funds to assist developing countries in meeting the costs of both mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts. This includes the establishment of a Green Climate Fund aimed at providing financial resources on a grant basis, including for projects related to mitigation and adaptation.
Loss and Damage
The Paris Agreement acknowledges that some impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise or extreme weather events, cannot be avoided even with ambitious mitigation efforts. Therefore, it provides for a mechanism to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change that people are unable to cope with.
Enhanced Capacity Building
Recognizing the specific needs of developing countries, the agreement calls for enhanced capacity building support to help these nations implement climate actions effectively. This includes support for technology development and transfer, as well as assistance in building institutional and technical capacities.
Global Stocktake
A global stocktake will be conducted every five years to evaluate collective progress toward achieving the purpose of the Agreement and to inform countries on updating and enhancing their NDCs. This process will involve the assessment of aggregate emission levels and overall progress towards the long-term goal.
Implementation and Support
The agreement stresses the importance of implementation and support, recognizing that while all countries should take action, developed countries should continue to take the lead. It also emphasizes the need for coherent policies across different sectors and government levels, as well as cooperation with non-state actors such as cities, businesses, and civil society.
In summary, the Paris Agreement lays out a comprehensive framework for international cooperation on climate change, emphasizing ambition, fairness, and transparency. Its success depends on the commitment of all parties involved to uphold their promises and to continuously strive for greater efforts in combating climate change.