Introduction
The Paris Agreement, passed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015, is an international legislation addressing climate change. Though not the first of its kind, it has had a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape. Despite facing setbacks and failures, the agreement has proven to be effective in addressing climate change, considering its historical context and political perspectives.
Background
Climate change is defined by the United Nations as “long term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns”, a pattern that has accelerated as a result of human influence. Climate change has been at the heart of political differences for over a decade, as individuals, businesses, and governments try to balance economic needs with environmental protection. The Kyoto Protocol of 2005 is a contract that operationalized the United Nations Framework on the Convention of Climate Change, and it was one of the first acknowledgements of climate change as an international problem. It set the stage for the Paris Agreement by setting goals to limit greenhouse gasses and mitigate the effects of climate change and uniting the international community to collaborate against a common problem.
The United Nations created 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) in 2012, which are social, economic, and political goals that revolve around international climate vulnerability. These goals were created as a call to action for the United Nations to work towards a sustainable future. However, there were many other aspects of climate change that the protocol and goals did not address, leading to the creation of the Paris Agreement. This agreement encouraged world leaders to take action against climate change and mitigate the consequences of this global problem.
Introduction to the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 by 194 parties, including the United States, is an international treaty where each country commits to following the agreement’s regulations and taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change. The agreement’s main goal is to limit the global average temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius and establish an action-oriented framework.
Countries follow a 5-year cycle, during which they submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), outlining their national climate action plans. These plans are tailored to each country’s unique economic, political, and social situation and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. NDCs represent each party’s mandatory call to action.
The Agreement also provides financial and technological assistance to signatory countries to help them implement their climate action plans effectively. Developed countries are expected to take the lead in providing financial support due to their greater resources and capabilities. This support framework is customized to meet each country’s specific needs, encouraging both developed and developing nations to take action.
The Paris Agreement includes an Enhanced Transparency Framework, where countries report their climate actions and progress. After a review, they receive recommendations for future plans. Overall, the Paris Agreement is a comprehensive and effective piece of legislation that urges countries to make a significant difference in combating the effects of climate change.
Successes
Previously, experts predicted that global temperature would rise about 7 degrees Fahrenheit. However, since the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the previous prediction has decreased to a global rise of about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. This marks a major step in the fight against climate change. However, it is not clear if the Paris Agreement directly led to the reforms which reduced temperature predictions, or if government actors and activists who were already mobilizing against climate change would have undertaken the same actions regardless of the international agreement.
The Paris Agreement achieved notable success by encouraging countries like Japan, China, and the EU to set carbon neutrality goals and embrace net zero targets. Net zero means each country commits to reducing emissions close to zero, with any remaining emissions reabsorbed without significant environmental impact. This progress has led to substantial emission cuts and efforts to mitigate climate change. Other countries are inspired to adopt similar goals, promoting global sustainability.
Another success of the Paris Agreement lies in creating a collaborative community of countries. The United States, as a member, works alongside other signatory parties to combat climate change. The European Council actively promoted all EU member states to join the Agreement and take action against climate change. This unity among EU countries and the United States in aligning with the agreement and working together has contributed to the success of achieving this goal.
Failures
The main challenge associated with many international agreements is enforceability. While the Paris Agreement requires monitoring and reporting of carbon emissions, it does not have the ability to force a country to reduce emissions. Most actions related to reducing carbon emissions have to be passed by legislative bodies or heads of states, and agreements with the international community come second to those forms of decision making. If a country who signs onto the Paris Agreement fails to meet its obligations, other countries might use soft power to coerce actions, via sanctions or diplomatic means. However, major powers like the U.S. and China are less susceptible to this form of peer pressure, and they are also the countries currently responsible for the most emissions.
Some also question whether the Paris Agreement goes far enough in setting ambitious goals for carbon emission reductions. In order to receive widespread support, some costly and aggressive elements had to be abandoned. Based on the policies which have been enacted, the Earth is currently not on track to stay below the stated goal of a 2 degree Celsius increase in temperature.
