The Paris Agreement is a landmark international agreement aimed at combating climate change. Adopted in 2015, it sets ambitious goals for limiting global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
At its core, the Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty that aims to keep global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while also pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is seen as the threshold beyond which the worst impacts of climate change could be unleashed, including more frequent and severe heatwaves, droughts, storms, and floods.
To achieve these goals, each country that signs the Paris Agreement is required to develop and regularly update a national climate action plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). These plans outline the country`s strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
The Paris Agreement also includes provisions for financial and technical support to help developing countries shift to low-carbon economies and adapt to climate change. Developed countries are expected to mobilize at least $100 billion per year in climate finance by 2020, with a goal of increasing support over time.
The Paris Agreement has been hailed as a major achievement in global climate diplomacy, with over 190 countries signing on. However, its effectiveness depends on countries following through on their commitments and ratcheting up their ambition over time. The United States, which was a key architect of the agreement, has signaled its intention to withdraw, but other countries have pledged to stay the course.
In summary, the Paris Agreement is an international treaty aimed at combating climate change by setting ambitious goals for limiting global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It requires each signatory country to develop and regularly update a national climate action plan, and includes provisions for financial and technical support for developing countries. Its effectiveness depends on countries following through on their commitments and increasing their ambition over time.