Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement of 2015 obliges countries to limit global warming to below 2 °C. It is a key document in global climate protection.

The Paris Agreement, officially known as the Agreement of Paris, represents a crucial step in international climate policy. It was adopted on December 12, 2015, at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris and came into force on November 4, 2016. With its nearly universal ratification by 195 countries and the European Union, the agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 °C, ideally to 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels.The core goals of the Paris Agreement include the commitment of all signatory countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change. Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are required, which must be regularly updated and reviewed to ensure the effectiveness of the measures.

A central demand of the agreement is the achievement of net-zero emissions in the second half of the 21st century, meaning that no additional greenhouse gases can be emitted into the atmosphere that cannot be absorbed by natural or technical sinks. Furthermore, the agreement includes mechanisms for financial support for developing countries to enhance their capacity to implement climate protection measures.

The Paris Agreement distinguishes itself from previous agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol through its universal applicability, as it applies equally to all countries, regardless of their level of development. It calls for a global stocktake every five years to assess progress and make adjustments if necessary. Despite these measures, the implementation of the agreement remains a challenge, as many scientists believe that the ambitious climate targets are difficult to achieve unless comprehensive and immediate actions for emission reduction are taken.