What is the significance of the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement holds significant importance as a comprehensive international treaty specifically aimed at combating climate change and its effects. Adopted in 2015, its core objective is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to restrict the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This goal is crucial because these temperature thresholds are critical for minimizing the adverse impacts of climate change on ecosystems, human health, and economies.

The Agreement also establishes a framework for countries to set their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to emissions, allowing for tailored approaches based on national circumstances and capacities while promoting accountability through a global stocktaking process. By fostering international cooperation, the Paris Agreement encourages countries to strengthen their commitments over time, thereby facilitating collective action towards a sustainable future.

This focus on climate change distinguishes the Paris Agreement from other potential agreements related to trade, military alliances, or education initiatives, which do not directly address the urgent global challenge of climate change.