The Paris Climate Agreement, also known as the Paris Agreement, is a global agreement on climate change signed in December 2015. The agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Here are some details about the Paris Climate Agreement:
1. Nationally Determined Contributions
Countries are required to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which outline their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These contributions are not legally binding, but there is an expectation that countries will meet their commitments. The NDCs are reviewed every five years to assess progress and to encourage countries to increase their ambition over time.
2. Long-term goals
The Paris Agreement sets a long-term goal of balancing the emissions of greenhouse gases with the absorption capacity of the Earth`s natural systems, such as forests and oceans. This goal is known as “net-zero emissions” and aims to achieve a balance between emissions and removals by the second half of this century.
3. Financial support
The agreement also provides financial support to developing countries for mitigation and adaptation efforts. Developed countries are required to provide at least $100 billion per year in climate finance to developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further increase this amount over time.
4. Adaptation
The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change, particularly for vulnerable developing countries. It calls for the enhancement of adaptive capacity, strengthening of resilience, and reduction of vulnerability to climate change.
5. Transparency and accountability
The agreement includes provisions for transparency and accountability to ensure that countries are meeting their commitments. Countries are required to report on their greenhouse gas emissions and the progress they are making towards their NDCs. There are also provisions for a global stocktake every five years to assess progress towards meeting the long-term temperature goals.
Overall, the Paris Climate Agreement represents a significant step forward in the global effort to tackle climate change. While the commitments made by countries are not legally binding, the agreement provides a framework for increased ambition over time and encourages transparency and accountability to ensure that progress is being made towards a sustainable future.