The Paris climate accord, also known as the Paris agreement, is an international agreement aimed at combatting climate change. It was adopted in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP21, with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Paris agreement is a legally binding treaty that has been ratified by 189 countries, including the United States, China, and India, which are among the world`s largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. The accord requires countries to submit national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), every five years with the aim of progressively increasing their ambition in reducing emissions.
The Paris agreement also established the Green Climate Fund, which is designed to help developing countries transition to low-carbon economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The fund is financed by developed countries that pledge to contribute $100 billion per year by 2020, although some are falling short of meeting this target.
Despite its ambitious goals, the Paris agreement has faced challenges and criticism. One of the most significant challenges has been the withdrawal of the United States from the agreement in 2017 under the Trump administration. However, the incoming administration of President Biden has rejoined the agreement and pledged to make climate action a top priority.
Critics of the Paris agreement argue that it does not go far enough in addressing the urgency of the climate crisis and that its goals are too modest to prevent catastrophic impacts. Some also question the fairness of the agreement, as developing countries are expected to bear a significant burden in reducing emissions while developed countries have historically been the largest emitters.
Despite these criticisms, the Paris agreement remains a crucial international effort to address the urgent threat of climate change. It represents a critical step towards reducing global carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable populations. As the world continues to face the challenges of climate change, it is crucial that countries work together to implement the Paris agreement and pursue even more ambitious climate action.
