What international agreements and initiatives are in place to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming?
Several important international agreements and initiatives have been established to address greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. These include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and various initiatives aimed at reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development.
Long answer
The primary international framework addressing climate change is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a global treaty adopted in 1992. Its ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that avoids dangerous human interference with the climate system. The UNFCCC sets out general principles, institutions, guidelines for reporting and review, capacity-building measures, and financial assistance mechanisms.
Under the UNFCCC, countries agreed to a specific binding agreement called the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol required developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by specific targets during the period from 2008 to 2012. It also established mechanisms such as clean development mechanism (CDM) and emissions trading that allowed richer countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing nations.
In recent years, however, major developments have taken place under the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015. This agreement aims to limit global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unlike its predecessor, the Paris Agreement is not legally binding for emission reduction targets but includes nationally determined contributions (NDCs) voluntarily pledged by each country.
Apart from these formal treaties, numerous initiatives have evolved to support greenhouse gas reduction efforts globally. The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition encourages carbon pricing mechanisms as an instrument for achieving emissions reductions. The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction promotes energy-efficient buildings and supports renewable energy use. The Clean Energy Ministerial fosters collaboration among governments on clean energy technology deployment.
There are also regional initiatives like the European Union Emissions Trading System, which establishes a cap-and-trade mechanism within member states. The African Renewable Energy Initiative aims to reach a minimum of 300 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 on the African continent.
These agreements and initiatives play critical roles in advancing international collaboration, setting emission reduction targets, mobilizing financial resources, promoting technology transfer, and encouraging sustainable development practices to mitigate the challenges posed by greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.