Paris Agreement: Climate Action Framework
The Paris Agreement is a treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ,It focuses on mitigating climate change adapting to its effects and financing related initiatives.
The agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, by 169 parties at the 21st conference of the UNFCCC in Paris, France. It entered into force on November 4, 2016, after 55 parties ratified it (Denchak para 4).
The treaty aims to reduce global warming to below 2°C, which is slightly above pre-industrial levels (Denchak para 4). It also seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Experts believe this will help mitigate the negative impacts of climate change (Denchak para 4).
Additionally, the Paris Agreement aims to enhance member states’ ability to cope with climate change’s consequences. It also finances programs that reduce emissions and promote climate-resilient infrastructure.
Requirements of the Paris Agreement
As required by the Paris Agreement, each member state must devise a plan. Then, they must execute this plan and continually report progress. This is essential for reducing the global warming effect.
In other words, each of the 190 member countries of UNFCCC can set a specific emission reduction target. They can choose a target they intend to achieve by a certain date. However, it is important to note that only 90 parties have ratified the Paris Agreement.
Each country’s target is determined by several factors. These include financial capability, the level of development, and current carbon emissions (Denchak para 15). Additionally, the Paris Agreement operates on a five-year cycle. Thus, each country’s target must exceed the previous ones.
Moreover, the Agreement requires developed countries to finance programs that mitigate climate change in developing countries. This is especially important for those countries that are more vulnerable (Denchak para 19).
In December 2015, President Barack Obama stated that the U.S. had committed to the Paris Climate Agreement. In his speech, he envisioned a world that would be safer, more secure, freer, and more prosperous because of the treaty (Denchak para 1).