Paris Agreement - Paris 2015 (COP 21; CMP 11)

The adoption of the Paris Agreement took place on December 12, 2015, during the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris, with participation from 196 countries.
It officially came into force on November 4, 2016, aiming to decrease and alleviate greenhouse gas emissions.
Leading up to COP 21, countries were required to submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Notably, there was a significant shift in the commitments made by various nations. India, categorized among emerging economies, demonstrated its commitment as a responsible nation in addressing climate change.

Table of Contents

GOALS

The Paris Agreement, born out of a collective acknowledgment of the reality of climate change, outlines specific aims to address this global challenge. These goals are:

Limit the increase in global temperatures this century to a level significantly below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Endeavor to further restrict the temperature rise to an even more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Enhance the capacity of countries to effectively manage and respond to the impacts of climate change.

NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) represent the voluntary commitments made by individual countries to reduce their emissions.
The Paris Agreement mandates that all participating Parties exert their optimal efforts by submitting these NDCs, with an obligation to enhance these efforts in the subsequent years.
This commitment involves regular reporting by all Parties, detailing both their emissions data and the actions they are taking to fulfill their pledges.
In 2018, a comprehensive assessment of collective efforts was conducted to evaluate progress toward the overarching goal established in the Paris Agreement.
Additionally, a global stocktake occurs every five years, systematically evaluating the combined progress towards the Agreement’s objectives.
This process serves to guide and inspire further actions on an individual basis by the Parties involved.

ITS IMPORTANCE LIES IN

The Paris Agreement holds significant importance for several reasons:

Addressing Post-2020 Climate Action: The agreement becomes crucial as it fills the gap left by the expiration of previous commitments, such as those outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, and outlines the course of action for the decade after 2020 and beyond.
Financial Commitments: The inclusion of a provision requiring developed countries to provide $100 billion annually to support developing nations starting in 2020 demonstrates a commitment to addressing global climate issues collectively. This financial support is expected to increase over time.
Bottom-Up Approach: Unlike many international environmental treaties that follow a ‘top-down’ approach, the Paris Agreement adopts a ‘bottom-up’ structure. This means that countries determine and voluntarily submit their own contributions (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs), fostering a more inclusive and collaborative approach.
Long-Term Emission Reduction Plan: The accord marks a notable departure by establishing a longer-term plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It emphasizes the importance of achieving a balance between the output of human-made greenhouse gases and their absorption by natural sinks (such as forests or oceans) by the second half of the century, contributing to the overall goal of limiting global temperature rise.

CRITICISMS ABOUT PARIS AGREEMENT

Inadequate Pledges: Studies, including one published in Nature in June 2016, suggest that the current pledges made by countries are insufficient to achieve the temperature goals set by the Paris Agreement. The commitments fall short of ensuring a temperature rise below the targeted limit of “well below 2 °C.”
Insufficiency of Pledges: Reports from the UNFCCC indicate that even if all the commitments made by the 197 signatory countries were fulfilled, it might not be enough to meet the conservative goal of limiting global temperature rise within the 2-degree Celsius threshold.
Lack of Firm Commitments: Critics argue that a significant portion of the agreement comprises “promises” or aspirations rather than concrete, binding commitments. This has raised concerns about the enforceability and effectiveness of the outlined measures.
Financial Disparities: The starting point of $100 billion per year, designated for supporting developing nations, is criticized for being less than 8% of the total worldwide declared military spending each year. This has led to concerns about the adequacy of financial support for addressing climate change impacts in vulnerable regions.
Voluntary Mechanism: The agreement relies heavily on voluntary national caps on emissions without clear guidelines on their stringency, making it challenging to ensure that the specified goals will be met. The absence of binding international legal obligations raises skepticism about the enforceability of the outlined targets.
Lack of Enforcement Mechanism: The agreement primarily relies on a “name and shame” or “name and encourage” approach, lacking a robust enforcement mechanism. The contributions made by countries are not legally binding, and this has led to doubts about the effectiveness of the agreement in holding nations accountable for their climate action commitments.

FAQs about Paris Agreement (2015), COP21, and CMP11

Q1: What is the Paris Agreement, and when was it adopted?

A1: The Paris Agreement is a global treaty adopted on December 12, 2015, during the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris. It officially came into force on November 4, 2016.

Q2: What are the primary goals of the Paris Agreement?

A2: The goals of the Paris Agreement include limiting the global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, striving for a more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, and enhancing countries’ abilities to manage and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Q3: What are Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of the Paris Agreement?

A3: NDCs are voluntary commitments made by individual countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement mandates countries to submit these contributions, with an obligation to continually enhance their efforts.

Q4: How are countries held accountable for their commitments under the Paris Agreement?

A4: Countries are required to regularly report on their emissions and implementation efforts. Additionally, a global stocktake occurs every five years to assess collective progress, guiding further actions by the participating countries.

Q5: Why is the Paris Agreement considered important?

A5: The agreement is crucial for addressing post-2020 climate action, ensuring financial commitments for supporting developing nations, adopting a bottom-up approach for inclusivity, and establishing a long-term plan for emission reduction, contributing to the goal of limiting global temperature rise.

Q6: What are some criticisms of the Paris Agreement?

A6: Critics argue that current pledges are insufficient to meet temperature goals, commitments may fall short even if fulfilled, the agreement lacks firm commitments, financial support is deemed inadequate, the voluntary mechanism raises doubts about goal attainment, and there’s a lack of a robust enforcement mechanism.

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Paris Agreement – Paris 2015 (COP 21; CMP 11) – UPSC Environment Notes