Paris climate change agreement
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
The Paris Climate Change Agreement: An Overview
Introduction to the Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015, represents a significant milestone in international climate policy. It acknowledges the primacy of domestic politics in climate change mitigation and allows countries to set their own levels of ambition through voluntary pledges, which are then reviewed internationally . This approach aims to increase global ambition through a process of "naming and shaming" and sidesteps distributional conflicts that have historically hindered international climate cooperation .
Goals and Mechanisms of the Paris Agreement
Temperature Targets and National Contributions
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius . Countries have submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) outlining their post-2020 climate actions. While these INDCs collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to current policies, they still imply a median warming of 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius by 2100, indicating that more ambitious actions are necessary .
Pledge and Review System
A key feature of the Paris Agreement is the "Pledge and Review" system, where states offer Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions. This system provides substantial discretion for governments, which may lead to varying levels of commitment and action . The effectiveness of this system will depend on the willingness of both OECD and newly industrializing countries to take costly actions, including financial transfers to poorer nations .
Political Dynamics and Success Factors
International Negotiations and Diplomacy
The success of the Paris Agreement can be attributed to effective climate diplomacy and the international conversation during negotiations, which induced cognitive change and altered preferences in favor of policy commitments . The agreement's inclusive and binding nature, in contrast to the failure at Copenhagen in 2009, has regenerated faith in the UNFCCC as a forum for dynamic multilateralism .
Role of Major Emitters
The Paris Agreement would not have been possible without the commitment of the three largest emitters: China, the United States, and the European Union, which together contribute more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions . The EU has long been a leader in climate change measures, while significant shifts in climate positions by China and the US were crucial in the lead-up to the Paris negotiations .
Challenges and Criticisms
Insufficient Ambition and Vagueness
Despite its diplomatic success, the Paris Agreement has faced criticism for its vagueness and the substantial discretion it allows governments, which may limit the scope or intensity of their actions . Critics argue that the agreement's targets and promises do not align with the biophysical and socio-economic realities of climate change, and that it prioritizes sustained industrial growth over substantive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions .
Human Rights and Climate Change
The Paris Agreement is also relevant to human rights law, as climate change poses a significant threat to human rights. However, the agreement itself says little about human rights, leaving it to the human rights community to influence the implementation of climate commitments .
Conclusion
The Paris Agreement marks a new era in international climate politics by creating a framework for voluntary pledges and international accountability. While it has succeeded in bringing together a broad coalition of countries and setting ambitious temperature targets, its ultimate success will depend on the willingness of nations to enhance their commitments and take substantial actions to reduce emissions. The agreement's value will be determined by its ability to mobilize international and domestic pressure and generate political momentum for more substantial climate policies worldwide Falkner2016Rogelj2016Dimitrov2016+5 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic