The Paris Agreement is an international agreement that was adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a further aspiration to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It does this through a series of clauses that outline the steps that countries must take to achieve these goals.
The clauses of the Paris Agreement are as follows:
1. Long-term goal: The Paris Agreement sets a long-term goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.
2. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country is required to submit an NDC outlining what they will do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. These are submitted every five years and must be more ambitious than the previous submission.
3. Transparency: The Paris Agreement requires that each country report on their progress towards meeting their NDCs and submit reports on their emissions and finances every two years.
4. Finance: Developed countries are expected to provide financial assistance to developing countries to help them transition to a low-carbon economy and adapt to the impact of climate change. The Paris Agreement encourages public and private finance to support climate action.
5. Adaptation: The Paris Agreement recognizes the need for countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change that are already happening. It encourages countries to develop and implement adaptation plans.
6. Loss and damage: The Paris Agreement acknowledges that some countries are already experiencing irreversible loss and damage as a result of climate change. It establishes a mechanism to address this issue, including a task force to help vulnerable countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
7. Technology transfer: The Paris Agreement encourages the transfer of technology from developed countries to developing countries to help them transition to a low-carbon economy.
8. Capacity building: Developing countries may require assistance in implementing the Paris Agreement, so the agreement encourages capacity-building activities to help countries meet their climate goals.
In conclusion, the clauses of the Paris Agreement set out a comprehensive framework for addressing climate change. The agreement recognizes the need for international cooperation and a shared approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. While the Paris Agreement is not perfect, it represents an important step forward in global efforts to address climate change and protect the planet for future generations.