What is the Paris Climate Agreement? It's a global pact to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating its impacts. Signed on April 22, 2016, by 196 parties at the COP21 conference in Paris, France, this landmark agreement aims to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. The agreement emphasizes a bottom-up approach, allowing nations to set their own targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It also focuses on adaptation, finance, and transparency, aiming to mobilize up to USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to support climate action.
What is the Paris Climate Agreement?
The Paris Climate Agreement is a landmark international treaty aimed at combating climate change. It was signed by numerous countries with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature rise. Here are some key facts about this crucial agreement:
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Signing and Entry into Force: The Paris Agreement was signed on April 22, 2016, and came into effect on November 4, 2016, after being ratified by 55 countries representing at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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Negotiation: The agreement was negotiated by 196 parties during the COP21 conference in Paris, France, from November 30 to December 12, 2015.
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Parties: As of February 2023, 195 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are parties to the agreement. Iran is the only major emitter that has not ratified it.
The Role of the United States
The United States has had a complicated relationship with the Paris Climate Agreement, impacting its global influence.
- 04United States Withdrawal: The U.S. withdrew from the agreement in 2020, rejoined in 2021, and withdrew again in 2025.
Goals and Targets
The Paris Agreement sets ambitious goals to curb global warming and reduce emissions.
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Temperature Goals: The agreement aims to keep the global average temperature rise to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F).
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Emissions Reduction: To achieve these temperature goals, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced as soon as possible and reach net zero by the middle of the 21st century. Emissions need to be cut by roughly 50% by 2030 to stay below 1.5°C of global warming.
Challenges and Realities
Despite the ambitious goals, the world faces significant challenges in meeting them.
- 07Global Emissions: Despite the agreement, global emissions continued to rise rather than fall. 2024 was the hottest year on record, with a global average temperature above 1.5°C.
Adaptation and Finance
The agreement also focuses on helping countries adapt to climate change and mobilizing financial resources.
- 08Adaptation and Finance: The treaty aims to help countries adapt to climate change effects and mobilize enough finance. Each country must determine, plan, and regularly report on its contributions.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
Countries are encouraged to set their own targets and report on their progress.
- 09Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): No mechanism forces a country to set specific emissions targets, but each target should go beyond previous targets. Countries submit their NDCs, which are voluntary but subject to international review.
Structure and Binding Nature
The Paris Agreement has a unique structure and binding elements.
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Structure: The Paris Agreement is a short agreement with 16 introductory paragraphs and 29 articles. It contains procedural and operational articles, covering mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
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Binding Nature: The agreement is binding, but many of its articles do not imply obligations or are there to facilitate international collaboration. It covers most greenhouse gas emissions but does not apply to international aviation and shipping.
Bottom-Up Approach
The agreement allows countries to set their own targets, promoting flexibility and inclusivity.
- 12Bottom-Up Approach: The agreement has a bottom-up structure, allowing nations to set their own NDCs rather than having targets imposed top-down. This approach is notable for the United States, where the agreement is considered an "executive agreement rather than a treaty."
Comparison with Kyoto Protocol
The Paris Agreement differs significantly from its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol.
- 13Kyoto Protocol Comparison: Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, which sets commitment targets with legal force, the Paris Agreement emphasizes consensus building and voluntary targets. The specific climate goals are politically encouraged rather than legally bound.
Common but Differentiated Responsibility
The agreement recognizes the different capabilities and responsibilities of countries.
- 14Common but Differentiated Responsibility: The Paris Agreement blurs the distinction between developed and developing countries, requiring all parties to submit emissions reduction plans. It emphasizes the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities.
Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM)
The agreement includes mechanisms to support sustainable development.
- 15Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM): Paragraphs 6.4–6.7 establish a mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gases and support sustainable development. The SDM is considered the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism and will be available to all parties.
Focus on Adaptation
Adaptation to climate change is a significant focus of the agreement.
- 16Climate Change Adaptation: The agreement places significant focus on climate change adaptation, with collective long-term adaptation goals and reporting requirements for countries. Adaptation actions aim to enhance adaptive capacity, increase resilience, and limit vulnerability.
Global Stocktake
Regular assessments help track progress and guide future actions.
- 17Global Stocktake: The first global stocktake report was released in September 2023, assessing the implementation of the agreement. The report showed that while the agreement has a significant effect, the world remains far from limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.
Emissions and Production Gaps
There are still significant gaps in emissions and production that need to be addressed.
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Emissions Gap: The Climate Action Tracker estimated that with current policies, global emissions will double above the 2030 target level, indicating a significant gap in meeting the agreement's goals. Countries like Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Thailand are criticized for not doing enough to meet the requirements.
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Production Gap: The Production Gap 2021 report states that world governments still plan to produce 110% more fossil fuels in 2030 than the 1.5 degree limit, highlighting the need for increased ambition in reducing emissions.
International Cooperation
The agreement fosters international cooperation on climate-friendly technologies and finance.
- 20International Cooperation: The agreement strengthens international cooperation on climate-friendly technologies and capacity building. It also aims to scale up climate finance to mobilize funds of up to USD 100 billion per year by 2020 through developed country contributions and voluntary contributions by others.
Enhanced Transparency Framework
Transparency is key to building trust and ensuring effective implementation.
- 21Enhanced Transparency Framework: The agreement establishes an enhanced transparency framework applicable to all parties to make measures and assistance verifiable. This framework aims to build mutual confidence and promote effective implementation.
Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA)
The agreement recognizes the role of non-state actors in climate action.
- 22Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA): The COP21 conference recognized actions by cities, regions, businesses, and investors as well as civil society. The NAZCA portal captures commitments to action by these stakeholders, totaling over 11,300 commitments in spring 2016.
From INDCs to NDCs
Countries' climate action plans evolve over time.
- 23INDCs to NDCs: Intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) are voluntary in nature but turn into nationally determined contributions (NDCs) once the Paris Agreement is ratified. Parties are required to update their NDCs every five years, starting by 2020 at the latest.
Voluntary Cooperative Approaches
Countries can collaborate voluntarily to achieve their targets.
- 24Voluntary Cooperative Approaches: The agreement allows for voluntary cooperative approaches in implementing NDCs. This includes the use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) towards nationally determined contributions, promoting sustainable development and ensuring environmental integrity and transparency.
Mechanism for Mitigation and Sustainable Development
A specific mechanism supports both mitigation and sustainable development.
- 25Mechanism for Mitigation and Sustainable Development: The agreement establishes a mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of GHG emissions and support sustainable development. This mechanism aims to deliver an overall mitigation in global emissions by reducing emission levels in the host party that benefits from mitigation action.
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)
Scientific and technological advice plays a crucial role in the agreement.
- 26Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA): The SBSTA was mandated to operationalize the provision of the mechanism for mitigation and sustainable development by recommending a set of decisions to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the agreement at its first session.
Climate Finance
Mobilizing financial resources is essential for the agreement's success.
- 27Climate Finance: Developed country parties are expected to lead in mobilizing finance beyond previous efforts and from a variety of sources, instruments, and channels. Others may contribute on a voluntary basis.
First Global Stocktake Report
The first global stocktake report provides insights into the agreement's impact.
- 28First Global Stocktake Report: The first global stocktake report showed that if all countries fulfill their long-term pledges, the expected temperature rise by 2100 would be 1.7–2.1°C, significantly lower than the 3.7–4.8°C without the agreement.
Universal and Dynamic Agreement
The Paris Agreement is designed to be inclusive and adaptable.
- 29Universal and Dynamic Agreement: The Paris Agreement is both a universal and dynamic agreement, committing industrialized and developing countries alike. It ensures that the ambitions communicated in INDCs are increased every five years.
Implementation and Monitoring
Regular reviews and updates help ensure progress and accountability.
- 30Implementation and Monitoring: The agreement includes a mechanism for increased ambition every five years, starting in 2020. Signatories must take stock every five years to publicly report on their progress in curbing emissions compared to their plans, using a universal accounting system.
The Paris Climate Agreement's Impact
The Paris Climate Agreement stands as a pivotal effort in the fight against climate change. Signed by 195 countries, it aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C. Despite its ambitious goals, global emissions have continued to rise, with 2024 being the hottest year on record. The agreement's bottom-up approach allows countries to set their own targets, fostering international cooperation. However, the gap between current policies and the required reductions remains significant. The first global stocktake in 2023 highlighted progress but also underscored the need for increased ambition. With mechanisms for transparency, adaptation, and climate finance, the agreement provides a comprehensive framework for action. Yet, the challenge remains immense. The world must act swiftly and decisively to meet the agreement's goals and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Paris Climate Agreement is a crucial step, but it's just the beginning.
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