The Paris Agreement: A Global Effort to Combat Climate Change

In the face of growing environmental concerns, the Paris Agreement has emerged as a pivotal international treaty addressing global climate change. This accord, developed within the United Nations (UN) framework, represents a collective commitment by nations worldwide to limit global temperature increases.

Origins and Context

The Paris Agreement, a product of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a global treaty focusing specifically on climate issues.

Each year, countries that are parties to the UNFCCC convene at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to negotiate and discuss critical climate matters.

The agreement, negotiated in 2015 at COP 21 in Paris, France, succeeded the Kyoto Protocol 1997.

Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, which required only developed countries to decrease their emissions, the Paris Agreement takes a more inclusive approach, involving developed and developing nations in the fight against climate change, fostering a sense of global unity and shared responsibility.

Key Objectives and Mechanisms

At its core, the Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius below pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational goal of a 1.5-degree Celsius limit.

This ambitious goal, if achieved, could significantly reduce the impact of climate change and its associated risks, offering a hopeful future for our planet. 

To achieve this, the agreement introduces several vital mechanisms:

1. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each nation independently commits to limiting greenhouse gas emissions through NDCs, which are renegotiated every five years.
2. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies: The agreement outlines various approaches to reduce emissions, including mitigation, adaptation, conservation of carbon sinks, and market-based solutions.
3. Financial Considerations: The agreement acknowledges the potential damages from climate change and underscores the urgent need for developed countries to support developing nations in achieving sustainable and climate-resilient growth. This financial support is not just a consideration but a necessity in the fight against climate change.
4. Transparency and Accountability: Nations must provide information about their mitigation and adaptation efforts, and technical experts review submissions.

Challenges and Progress

While the Paris Agreement has garnered commitments from 195 countries, its non-binding nature poses challenges for oversight and progress.

Organisations like Climate Action Tracker are working to increase transparency by evaluating the obligations of major polluting countries and projecting potential global temperatures in 2100.

Despite current commitments, projections indicate that global temperatures may rise between 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius by 2100, exceeding the agreement’s goals. However, the deal allows for evolving commitments.

With the potential re-entry of the United States, one of the largest emitting countries, there’s hope for strengthened support in reducing emissions.

Looking Ahead

In 2024, the Paris Agreement remains an essential framework for international climate action.

Nations are currently submitting their second round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while experiencing continuous updates and revisions from multiple countries.

The effectiveness of the Paris Agreement, now more than ever, rests on sustained public engagement and holding nations accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions.

With each passing year, the urgency of climate action becomes more apparent, and the global community watches closely to see if countries will strengthen their commitments to align with the latest climate science.

While challenges remain significant, the Paris Agreement provides a foundation for international cooperation in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time.

The actions taken in the coming years will be crucial in determining whether this landmark accord can catalyse the transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future for our planet.

As we approach the next major milestone in the agreement’s timeline, all eyes are on the global community to see how nations will step up their efforts to combat climate change and whether the collective action will be sufficient to meet the ambitious goals set nearly a decade ago.

Article 6 is the most critical component of the Paris Agreement. This is a pressing issue that requires discussion.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement delineates the mechanisms through which nations may engage in voluntary collaboration to achieve their climate objectives.

It facilitates global collaboration to address climate change and secure financial assistance for developing nations.

Article 6 permits countries to transfer carbon credits acquired through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to assist one or more nations in achieving their climate objectives.

In our forthcoming articles, we will endeavour to examine Article 6 in a broader context to enhance its comprehensibility for the general public.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.