The Paris Agreement: Key Terms and Signed Date

The Paris Agreement, also known as the Paris Climate Accord, is an international treaty signed by 195 countries in December 2015. Its main goal is to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris Agreement also aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change and to finance the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The Paris Agreement was adopted during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015. It was the result of years of negotiations, and marked the first time that nearly every country in the world pledged to work together to tackle climate change.

The Paris Agreement is considered a historic achievement in the fight against global warming. It is a legally binding agreement, meaning that signatory countries are obligated to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to report on their progress regularly. The Paris Agreement also includes provisions to help vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, as well as provisions to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the agreement.

One of the key terms of the Paris Agreement is that each country must set its own target for reducing emissions, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). These targets are submitted to the UNFCCC, and are meant to be progressively more ambitious over time. The Paris Agreement also includes provisions for countries to work together on emissions reduction efforts, such as through the use of carbon markets and technology transfer.

The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, just days before the UNFCCC`s COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco. To date, 190 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement, including the United States, which originally signed the agreement but later withdrew under the Trump administration. The Biden administration has since rejoined the Paris Agreement, demonstrating a renewed commitment to global climate action.

In conclusion, the Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty that aims to address the urgent threat of climate change. It was signed on December 12, 2015, during the UNFCCC`s COP21 in Paris, France, and entered into force on November 4, 2016. The Paris Agreement is legally binding and includes provisions for countries to work together on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. It is an important step towards a more sustainable, low-carbon future.