The Paris Agreement is a landmark climate accord that was created in 2015 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement is designed to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Paris Agreement was adopted by the 196 parties to the UNFCCC during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, France. It represents a significant step forward in global cooperation to address climate change, with countries committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
The agreement sets out a long-term goal for climate action, with countries aiming to reach peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and to achieve a balance between emissions and removals of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century. The agreement also includes provisions for finance, technology transfer, capacity-building, and adaptation, recognizing the need to support developing countries in their efforts to address climate change.
One of the key aspects of the Paris Agreement is that it is a legally binding agreement, with countries required to submit national climate plans (known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) every five years and to report on their progress in implementing these plans. The agreement also includes a mechanism for transparency and accountability, with countries required to report on their emissions and to undergo regular reviews to assess their progress.
The Paris Agreement was a significant achievement in the fight against climate change, with countries coming together to make commitments and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the impacts of climate change. While the agreement is not perfect and there is still much work to be done, it represents an important step forward in the global effort to combat climate change.