The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty that was adopted on December 12, 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France.

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The agreement aims to address the global challenge of climate change by limiting global temperature increases and enhancing countries’ collective efforts to mitigate and adapt to its impacts. Here are the salient features of the Paris Agreement:

Global Temperature Goal:

The primary objective of the Paris Agreement is to limit the increase in the global average temperature well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Additionally, the agreement pursues efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, recognizing the need for more ambitious action to avoid severe climate impacts.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

Participating countries are required to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline their individual climate action plans, targets, and contributions to global emission reductions. NDCs are expected to be updated and enhanced over time, reflecting countries’ evolving capacities and circumstances.

Collective Global Efforts:

The Paris Agreement emphasizes the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. It recognizes that all countries, while contributing to the global effort, have different historical responsibilities and capacities. Developed countries are expected to take the lead in reducing emissions and providing financial support to developing countries.

Finance, Technology Transfer, and Capacity Building:

Developed countries committed to mobilize financial resources to support developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. The agreement also highlights the importance of technology transfer and capacity-building initiatives to help developing countries address climate change challenges effectively.

Transparency Framework:

The agreement establishes a robust transparency framework to track and assess countries’ progress in implementing their NDCs. This includes regular reporting and a global stocktake every five years to evaluate collective progress and enhance ambition.

Adaptation:

The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of adaptation to address the impacts of climate change, particularly for vulnerable and developing countries. It calls for global efforts to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks.

Loss and Damage:

The agreement acknowledges the concept of loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change, recognizing that some adverse effects may be beyond the ability of countries to adapt. The agreement establishes a mechanism to address loss and damage, including finance, insurance, and risk reduction.

Market Mechanisms:

The Paris Agreement encourages the use of market and non-market mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of NDCs. It establishes a sustainable development mechanism to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development efforts.

Global Stocktake:

The agreement mandates a global stocktake every five years to assess collective progress toward the goals of the agreement. The outcomes of the stocktake inform the next round of NDCs, promoting a continuous cycle of increasing ambition.

Entry into Force and Universal Participation:
- The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, after meeting the necessary ratification thresholds. The agreement aims for universal participation, encouraging all countries to join the global effort to address climate change.

The Paris Agreement represents a historic and cooperative effort by the international community to combat climate change. Its flexible and bottom-up approach, anchored in the principle of nationally determined contributions, aims to foster global collaboration in tackling the urgent challenges posed by a changing climate.