The Paris Agreement Details: A Comprehensive Guide
The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty that aims to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. This historic agreement was adopted by the international community on December 12, 2015, and has been ratified by 189 countries as of October 2021. The Paris Agreement aims to achieve its goals through a combination of mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
Mitigation
Mitigation is the process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent or reduce the effects of climate change. The Paris Agreement requires countries to submit Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) outlining their plans to reduce emissions. These INDCs are reviewed every five years and should become more ambitious over time. The Paris Agreement also establishes a global long-term goal for reducing emissions, which is to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century.
Adaptation
Adaptation is the process of adjusting to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement recognizes the need for adaptation and the importance of promoting and supporting adaptation efforts at the national, regional, and local levels. The agreement also establishes a global goal on adaptation, which is to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerabilities to climate change.
Finance
Finance is crucial for implementing mitigation and adaptation measures in developing countries. The Paris Agreement establishes a financial mechanism to support developing countries in their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Developed countries committed to mobilizing $100 billion per year by 2020 and to continue supporting developing countries in their efforts beyond 2020.
Transparency
Transparency is critical for ensuring the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement. The agreement establishes a transparency framework that requires countries to regularly report on their emissions, progress toward their mitigation and adaptation goals, and financial support provided and received. Countries also agreed to undergo a global stocktake every five years to assess progress toward the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
Conclusion
The Paris Agreement is a historic treaty that aims to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius. It establishes a framework for mitigation, adaptation, finance, and transparency to achieve its goals. The Paris Agreement has been ratified by 189 countries, and it is crucial that countries continue to work together to implement the agreement`s provisions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.