What international agreements or initiatives are in place to address climate change and global warming on a global scale?
There are several key international agreements and initiatives in place to address climate change and global warming on a global scale. The most notable ones include the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Long answer
The Paris Agreement is a significant international treaty adopted in 2015. Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Under this agreement, countries have put forward their voluntary national targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for financial assistance from developed countries to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The Kyoto Protocol was an important predecessor of the Paris Agreement and was effective from 2005 to 2020. It established legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries (known as Annex I parties) for specific periods. The protocol also introduced flexible mechanisms such as emissions trading and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects that facilitated cooperation between developed and developing nations.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty that lays the foundation for global cooperation on climate change. It provides a framework to discuss and negotiate measures to combat climate change at international conferences (Conference of the Parties or COPs). Adopted in 1992, it aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that avoids dangerous human interference with the climate system.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is not an agreement but rather a scientific body established by the UNFCCC in 1988. It assesses the latest scientific research related to climate change and provides policymakers with objective information they need when formulating their responses. The IPCC’s regular assessment reports are highly influential in shaping international climate policy.
These agreements and initiatives, along with many others, play a critical role in addressing climate change on a global scale. However, it is important to note that their effectiveness largely depends on the commitment and cooperation of governments and stakeholders worldwide. Ongoing efforts are still needed to strengthen these frameworks and increase ambition to tackle the complex challenge of global warming.