The Paris Agreement of 2015 was a landmark agreement between countries around the world to combat climate change. The main goal of the agreement was to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement was reached at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France, in December 2015.
The Paris Agreement was a significant step forward in global efforts to combat climate change. It was the first agreement to include all countries, both developed and developing, in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also recognized that countries have different needs and capabilities, and that each country should set its own targets for reducing emissions.
The Paris Agreement sets out a number of specific goals and targets that countries should aim to achieve. These include:
– Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Countries should aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and to reach a balance between emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century.
– Adaptation: Countries should strengthen their ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and to develop and implement adaptation plans.
– Finance: Developed countries should provide financial support to help developing countries reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
– Transparency: Countries should regularly report on their emissions, their progress towards their targets, and their plans for future action.
– Technology: Countries should promote the development and transfer of technology to help reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The Paris Agreement also recognizes the important role of non-state actors, such as businesses and civil society, in the effort to combat climate change. It encourages these actors to take action to reduce emissions and to support adaptation efforts.
The Paris Agreement of 2015 represents a significant step forward in global efforts to combat climate change. While it is still too early to say whether the goals and targets set out in the agreement will be achieved, it is clear that the agreement has provided a framework for action and has mobilized global support for the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the impacts of climate change.