As I write this article, the whole world is in Marrakesh, Morocco for the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference called Conference of the Parties (COP) 22 holding from 7th – 18th November, 2016. It is here that the 1st Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) will convene.
The Paris Agreement was negotiated by representatives of 195 countries at COP 21 which was held in Paris. It is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, adaptation and financing beginning from the year 2020.
Some key details of the Agreement include:
| Drafted | 30th November – 12th December, 2015 |
| Sealed | 12th December, 2015 |
| Signed | 22nd April, 2016 |
| Effective | 4th November, 2016 |
| Signatories | 193 |
| Parties | 111 |
| Condition | Ratification/Accession by 55 UNFCCC Parties, accounting for 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions |
Described as the world’s first comprehensive agreement, its aim include:
(a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;
(b) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production;
(c) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
I came across this great video on the Paris Agreement. I’m sure you will enjoy it and find it useful:
RESOURCES:
United Nations Treaty Collection