What are the key provisions of the Paris Agreement regarding greenhouse gas emissions?
The key provisions of the Paris Agreement regarding greenhouse gas emissions include the goal of limiting global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and achieving a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century. The agreement also emphasizes the importance of increasing adaptive capacity and resilience, as well as providing financial support for developing countries in their climate actions and reducing emissions.
Long answer
The Paris Agreement is a global effort aimed at addressing climate change through an international framework. One of its central goals is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this will significantly reduce risks and impacts associated with climate change.
To further enhance this aim, there is a specific provision in the agreement that encourages parties to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This acknowledgment reflects growing scientific evidence on the severe consequences beyond 2 degrees of warming.
The Paris Agreement also puts great emphasis on achieving a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources (such as burning fossil fuels) and removals by sinks (such as forests or carbon capture technologies) of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century. The balance aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in order to avoid dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
In addition, parties’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are voluntary targets submitted by each country, play a vital role in meeting these objectives. NDCs outline individual countries’ emission reduction plans and highlight their adaptation measures.
The agreement strengthens support for developing countries by emphasizing the importance of financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building assistance. Developed nations have committed to mobilize $100 billion per year starting from 2020 as climate funding for developing countries’ mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Moreover, transparency and accountability mechanisms are established under the Paris Agreement to track progress, enhance transparency of actions, and facilitate compliance by all parties. These mechanisms aim to ensure that countries fulfill their commitments and are accountable for their action towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the key provisions of the Paris Agreement regarding greenhouse gas emissions revolve around the shared objective of limiting global warming, enhancing adaptive capacity and resilience, providing financial support for developing countries, promoting transparency and accountability, and fostering international cooperation in addressing climate change.