The Paris Agreement was agreed by 197 countries in 2015 at Paris COP21. Putting it into force required ratification (formal approval by government) by a minimum of 55 countries that were responsible for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions - this happened in 2016. By 2020, almost every country (194 countries + EU) had signed up and all but 8 had ratified. The USA withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2019, but rejoined in early 2021 under its new president.
The headline agreements
At Paris 2015, there were important agreements that said:
• global temperature rise should be limited to well below 2 °C (preferably 1.5 °C)
• every country should submit an NDC (nationally determined contribution) - outlining how they will reduce carbon emissions
• every country should submit an Adaptation Communication - as part of an NDC or in a separate report
• developing nations should be supported to mitigate and adapt to climate change - see Climate Finance communications
• public and private finance should be diverted away from environmentally destructive development and towards low carbon climate-resilient development.
A call for action
The Paris Agreement recognised that the necessary reductions in carbon emissions can not be achieved by government alone. All parts of society would have to be persuaded to contribute. For this to happen, new structures were needed so that:
What else was agreed?
The following new institutions were agreed at Paris COP21:
Also, progress was made on the following entities (established at previous COP meetings):
New institutions, new directions
Initially, COP meetings focussed on the actions of countries. The agreements at Paris and related meetings have now brought all parts of society into the effort to create a low carbon world. Local government (regions, cities), businesses and civil society groups can make their own mitigation and adaption pledges through the Global Climate Action portal. This meant that, despite the withdrawal of the US federal government from the Paris Agreement 2019-21, US states, cities and businesses could still participate in reducing US carbon emissions.
Use the following links to find out how the scene was set for the Paris Agreement, the efforts to engage all parts of society in delivering the goals of Paris, how countries are reporting on their current progress and future plans, and where the money to finance all of this is going to come from.
The headline agreements
At Paris 2015, there were important agreements that said:
• global temperature rise should be limited to well below 2 °C (preferably 1.5 °C)
• every country should submit an NDC (nationally determined contribution) - outlining how they will reduce carbon emissions
• every country should submit an Adaptation Communication - as part of an NDC or in a separate report
• developing nations should be supported to mitigate and adapt to climate change - see Climate Finance communications
• public and private finance should be diverted away from environmentally destructive development and towards low carbon climate-resilient development.
A call for action
The Paris Agreement recognised that the necessary reductions in carbon emissions can not be achieved by government alone. All parts of society would have to be persuaded to contribute. For this to happen, new structures were needed so that:
- all parts of government (local, regional, central, global), business, NGOs, communities and individuals take action to reduce carbon emissions
- money of all types (investment, bank lending, international development, altruistic) is contributing to low carbon climate-resilient development
- information, technology and costs are shared across countries, business sectors and institutions
What else was agreed?
The following new institutions were agreed at Paris COP21:
- The Technology Mechanism - to support technology development and technology transfer
- The Transparency Framework
- The Implementation and Compliance Mechanism
Also, progress was made on the following entities (established at previous COP meetings):
- The Loss and Damage Mechanism
- The Financial Mechanism (to assist developing countries)
- Capacity Building and Education & Public Awareness
New institutions, new directions
Initially, COP meetings focussed on the actions of countries. The agreements at Paris and related meetings have now brought all parts of society into the effort to create a low carbon world. Local government (regions, cities), businesses and civil society groups can make their own mitigation and adaption pledges through the Global Climate Action portal. This meant that, despite the withdrawal of the US federal government from the Paris Agreement 2019-21, US states, cities and businesses could still participate in reducing US carbon emissions.
Use the following links to find out how the scene was set for the Paris Agreement, the efforts to engage all parts of society in delivering the goals of Paris, how countries are reporting on their current progress and future plans, and where the money to finance all of this is going to come from.
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FURTHER INFORMATION
The Paris Agreement
https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf
UNFCCC Adaptation Communications
https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/adaptation-communications
UNFCCC Climate Finance Communications
https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-finance/workstreams/ex-ante-climate-finance-information-post-2020-article-95-of-the-paris-agreement
The list of countries (the Parties to the Paris Agreement) on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_Paris_Agreement#Parties
A great overview "Paris Climate Agreement: Everything You Need to Know" from NRDC
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know#sec-summary
UNFCC
a list of the bodies to govern, manage and advise COP
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/bodies/the-big-picture/what-are-governing-process-management-subsidiary-constituted-and-concluded-bodies
Climate commitments made by regional government, business and civil society (non-state actors)
https://climateaction.unfccc.int/views/total-actions.html
The Paris Agreement
https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf
UNFCCC Adaptation Communications
https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/workstreams/adaptation-communications
UNFCCC Climate Finance Communications
https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-finance/workstreams/ex-ante-climate-finance-information-post-2020-article-95-of-the-paris-agreement
The list of countries (the Parties to the Paris Agreement) on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_Paris_Agreement#Parties
A great overview "Paris Climate Agreement: Everything You Need to Know" from NRDC
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know#sec-summary
UNFCC
a list of the bodies to govern, manage and advise COP
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/bodies/the-big-picture/what-are-governing-process-management-subsidiary-constituted-and-concluded-bodies
Climate commitments made by regional government, business and civil society (non-state actors)
https://climateaction.unfccc.int/views/total-actions.html