The agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, and has been ratified by 190 countries.
Key objectives and components of the Paris Agreement include:
- Limiting Global Warming: The central goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of limiting the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
- Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each participating country is required to submit its own NDC, outlining its individual commitments and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These NDCs are meant to be ambitious and are reviewed and updated periodically.
- Transparency and Accountability: The agreement establishes a framework for transparency and accountability to ensure that countries are making progress toward their emissions reduction goals. This includes regular reporting and review processes.
- Climate Finance: Developed countries committed to providing financial assistance to developing countries to help them mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. This includes both public and private financial flows.
- Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: The agreement encourages the sharing of environmentally friendly technologies and the development of capacities in developing countries to address climate change effectively.
- Loss and Damage: The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of addressing “loss and damage” associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including impacts that cannot be avoided through mitigation or adaptation efforts.
- Global Stocktake: A mechanism called the Global Stocktake is conducted every five years to assess collective progress towards the agreement’s goals and to inform future NDCs.
- Long-Term Goal: The Paris Agreement includes a long-term goal to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and removals (e.g., through forests and other carbon sinks) in the second half of this century.
The Paris Agreement represents a significant global effort to combat climate change and promote environmental protection. It reflects a consensus among nations that climate change is a pressing global issue that requires cooperative action. While the agreement has garnered widespread support, it also faces challenges in terms of implementation, financing, and meeting its ambitious targets. Finally it was an essential framework for international climate action, and subsequent developments may have occurred since then.