What is the Paris Agreement and how does it address climate change ?

The Paris Agreement is a global climate change agreement adopted by 196 parties at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015. It 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. The agreement also seeks to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To achieve its goals, the Paris Agreement addresses climate change through mitigation, adaptation, finance, and transparency and accountability measures. Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, such as increasing renewable energy use, improving energy efficiency, preserving forests, and implementing carbon pricing policies. Adaptation involves adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects, such as infrastructure development, water management, health systems, and agriculture practices. Finance acknowledges the need for financial support from developed countries to help developing countries implement their climate actions through mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and international cooperation. Transparency and accountability are ensured through regular reporting on national determined contributions (NDCs), a global stocktake process every five years, and an expert review process to assess the quality and accuracy of countries' reports on their greenhouse gas emissions and implementation of their NDCs.

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a global climate change agreement adopted by 196 parties at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015. It 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. The agreement also seeks to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.

How the Paris Agreement Addresses Climate Change

Long-term Goal

The long-term goal of the Paris Agreement is to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of the century. This means that countries aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to a level where they are no longer contributing to further warming of the planet.

Mitigation

Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Paris Agreement, each country has committed to taking steps to reduce its emissions through various measures such as:

  • Renewable Energy: Increasing the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower.
  • Energy Efficiency: Improving energy efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industry.
  • Forest Protection: Preserving forests and promoting reforestation to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Carbon Pricing: Implementing policies that put a price on carbon emissions, encouraging companies to reduce their emissions.

Adaptation

Adaptation refers to adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects. The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of adaptation measures to help countries cope with the impacts of climate change, such as:

  • Infrastructure Development: Building infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events like floods and droughts.
  • Water Management: Improving water management systems to ensure access to clean water resources.
  • Health Systems: Strengthening health systems to address climate-related health risks.
  • Agriculture: Developing sustainable agriculture practices that can adapt to changing climate conditions.

Finance

The Paris Agreement acknowledges the need for financial support from developed countries to help developing countries implement their climate actions. This includes:

  • Green Climate Fund: A fund established to provide financial resources for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in developing countries.
  • International Cooperation: Encouraging international cooperation on technology transfer, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.

Transparency and Accountability

To ensure that countries are meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement, there is a robust transparency and accountability framework. This includes:

  • National Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries submit regular reports on their progress towards achieving their NDCs.
  • Global Stocktake: A process that reviews the collective progress of all countries towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement every five years.
  • Expert Review: An expert review process to assess the quality and accuracy of countries' reports on their greenhouse gas emissions and implementation of their NDCs.