The History of the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a revolutionary treaty that brought every nation together in a collective mission to fight against climate change. It's the result of decades of negotiations, scientific warning, and growing public pressure for global environmental action. 

The Road to Paris 

The story of the Paris Agreement begins long before 2015. In fact, the world's first coordinates attempt to address climate change started in 1992, when countries adopted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Rio Earth Summit. This set the stage for international cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. From there, the first major breakthrough came in 1997 with the Kyoto Protocol, which legally bound developed nations to specific emission reduction targets. While groundbreaking at the time, Kyoto had limitations; it only applied to industrialized countries, leaving out major emerging economies like China and India. As climate science became more urgent and global emissions continued to rise, it became clear that a new more inclusive agreement was needed. 

The Agreement 

By the early 2000's, world leaders knew they needed a plan that would involve all nations both developed and underdeveloped. The 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit (COP15) tried to deliver that but fell short of expectations, resulting in a weak political accord instead of a binding treaty. However, Copenhagen showed something important- it kept the conversation alive. It showed that despite disagreements, nearly every country recognized the importance of limiting global warming.

In the years that followed, the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released increasingly alarming reports warming of severe global consequences if the planet warmed beyond 2 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels. The momentum for a universal deal kept building. 

The Paris Breakthrough (2015)

Finally, in December 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, negotiators from 196 countries adopted the Paris Agreement.

This treaty's goals were as followed: 

1. Limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and peruse efforts to keep it under 1.5 degrees Celsius.

2. Require each country to set its own Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC's)- emission reduction plans tailored to its capabilities. 

3. Increase transparency and accountability with countries reporting progress regularly 

4. Mobilize climate finance, aiming to help developing nations transition to clean energy and adapt to climate impacts.  

The agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, less than a year after adoptions which is one of the fastest ratifications in UN history. 

Challenges and Triumphs 

The years following the Paris Agreement have seen both setbacks and successes. In 2017, the United States announced its withdrawal by President Donald Trump, sparking global concern. But in 2021, President Joe Biden rejoined the accord, signaling renewed U.S. commitment. Meanwhile, countries have continued updating their NDC's, through process have been uneven. Global emissions have not yet peaked, and scientists warn that the world is still on the track to exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius target unless much stronger action is taken in this decade. Yet, the Paris Agreement has fundamentally changed how nations, businesses, and individuals think about climate responsibility. It created a shared framework that drives innovation, policy change, and global cooperation. 

Looking Ahead