The global climate agreement of 2015 is a landmark achievement in the fight against climate change. The agreement was reached at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France. It is officially called the Paris Agreement and was signed by 196 countries, including the United States, China, and India, who are the three biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.
The Paris Agreement aims to limit the planet`s warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this, countries have agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen their climate resilience.
The agreement requires each country to submit a nationally determined contribution (NDC) outlining their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts are measured in the form of “carbon budgets” which are the total amount of greenhouse gases a country can emit while still meeting its climate goals. The NDCs are reviewed every five years to ensure that they are in line with the Paris Agreement`s goal of limiting global warming.
The Paris Agreement also commits developed countries to provide financial resources to help developing countries transition to a low-carbon economy and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This includes a pledge to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 and to increase this amount in the future.
The global climate agreement of 2015 is a significant step in the global effort to combat climate change. It shows that the international community is willing and able to work together to address this pressing issue. However, the success of the Paris Agreement will depend on the actions taken by each country to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience. It is up to all of us to make sure that the Paris Agreement is fully implemented and that we take the necessary steps to protect our planet for future generations.