What are the key components of the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is a landmark international treaty that aims to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering global cooperation. The key components of the agreement include:

Goals

• Limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to keep it below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Achieving global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, and pursuing efforts to reach net-zero emissions in the second half of the 21st century.

Structure

• Bottom-up approach where countries set their own climate targets known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• Transparency and accountability mechanisms to track progress and ensure countries are meeting their commitments.

Implementation Mechanisms

• Finance: Developed countries to provide financial support to developing countries for both adaptation and mitigation efforts.
• Technology Transfer: Facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.
• Capacity-building: Enhance the capacity of developing countries to implement climate action.

The Paris Agreement is a critical framework for international efforts to address climate change and achieve sustainable development, with its key components guiding countries towards a more sustainable and resilient future.