December 7, 2015
The Paris Agreement, a landmark international accord aimed at reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, is adopted by consensus at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21).
Paris, France | United Nations
On December 12, 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France. This landmark international accord marked a significant step in global efforts to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions and limiting global warming.
The Paris Agreement set forth several critical objectives:
Limit Global Warming: The primary goal is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Enhance Adaptive Capacity: Strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change, promoting resilience and reducing vulnerability.
Financial Support: Mobilize financial resources to assist developing countries in their climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country is required to prepare, communicate, and maintain successive NDCs that it intends to achieve. These contributions represent the efforts by each nation to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Global Stocktake: Every five years, a global stocktake will assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Agreement and its long-term goals.
Transparency Framework: A robust transparency and accountability framework was established to ensure that countries report on their progress and actions taken to meet their NDCs.
The Paris Agreement built upon the foundation laid by previous international climate agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, which imposed binding commitments on developed countries, the Paris Agreement requires all countries, regardless of their development status, to contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.
Universal Participation: The Agreement was notable for its near-universal acceptance, with 196 parties to the UNFCCC adopting it. This broad participation underscored the global consensus on the urgency of addressing climate change.
Entry into Force: The Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, after being ratified by at least 55 countries accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Long-term Impact: The Paris Agreement has been a catalyst for increased climate action worldwide, influencing national policies, corporate strategies, and public awareness about the importance of sustainable practices.
The adoption of the Paris Agreement on December 12, 2015, represented a pivotal moment in international climate diplomacy. By setting ambitious targets and fostering global cooperation, it laid the groundwork for a concerted effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change and transition towards a sustainable future.
Source: unfccc.int