The UN Paris Agreement
In December 2015, at the Paris Climate Conference (the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, or COP21), 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on the track to avoid dangerous climate change. The key elements of the agreement are outlined below:
- Mitigation (emissions reductions) – Governments agreed on a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. They agreed on the aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C, since this would significantly reduce risks and the impacts of climate change. The governments agreed on the need for global emissions to peak as soon as possible, recognising that this will take longer time for the developing countries; and they agreed to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with the best available science achievements.
- Transparency and global stock taking – governments agreed to: come together every five years to set more ambitious targets as required by science; report to each other and the public on how well they are doing in reaching their targets; and track progress towards their long-term goal for sustainable transparency and accountability system.
- Adaptation – Governments agreed on strengthening society capacity for dealing with the impacts of climate change; and provide permanent and enhanced international support for adaptation for the developing countries.
- The Paris Agreement acknowledges the need to cooperate and enhance understanding, actions and support in different areas such as early warning systems, emergency preparedness and risk insurance; and recognises the role of non-party stakeholders in addressing climate change, including cities, regional authorities, civil society and the private sector.
- Developed countries have made a commitment to support climate action to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change impacts in developing countries.
As of November 2021, 193 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have been parties to the agreement. Of the four UNFCCC member states which have not ratified the agreement, the only major emitter is Iran. The United States withdrew from the Agreement in 2020, but rejoined in 2021.
