Paris Agreement

Definition

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty aimed at addressing climate change and its impacts, adopted in 2015 during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference. It seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it below 1.5 degrees Celsius, reflecting a global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Paris Agreement requires all countries to submit their NDCs every five years, reflecting their climate action goals and ambitions.
2. One of the key mechanisms of the agreement is the 'ratchet mechanism,' which encourages countries to increase their commitments over time for more ambitious climate action.
3. The agreement recognizes the need for financial assistance to developing nations, emphasizing the importance of climate finance in achieving the treaty's objectives.
4. It includes provisions for a transparency framework, allowing countries to track progress and share information on their emissions reduction efforts.
5. As of now, nearly every country in the world has ratified the Paris Agreement, showcasing a global consensus on the need to combat climate change.

Review Questions

• How does the Paris Agreement encourage countries to progressively enhance their climate commitments over time?
  • The Paris Agreement employs a mechanism known as the 'ratchet mechanism,' which mandates that each country updates its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years. This system is designed to push countries towards more ambitious goals by requiring them to reflect on their progress and adjust their targets upwards in order to meet the overarching climate objectives of limiting global warming.
• Discuss the role of climate finance in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, especially for developing nations.
  • Climate finance plays a crucial role in helping developing nations implement their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Developed countries are expected to provide financial resources and technology transfer to support mitigation and adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries. This financial assistance is vital for enabling these nations to transition to low-carbon economies while addressing their specific climate challenges, ensuring equitable participation in global climate action.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement in achieving its goal of limiting global warming and how it influences international relations among states.
  • The effectiveness of the Paris Agreement hinges on collective global action and the individual commitments made by countries through their NDCs. While it establishes a framework for cooperation, its success ultimately depends on political will, adherence to targets, and increased ambition over time. The agreement influences international relations by fostering collaboration among nations and creating a shared responsibility for addressing climate change, which can also lead to tensions when countries fail to meet their commitments or when there are significant disparities in obligations between developed and developing nations.

Related terms

UNFCCC: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international environmental treaty that sets an overall framework for climate change negotiations and actions.

NDCs: Nationally Determined Contributions are the individual pledges made by countries under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and report on their progress.

Climate Finance: Financial support provided by developed countries to developing countries for climate mitigation and adaptation efforts as part of international climate agreements.