The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, established a global framework to address climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. In order to achieve this goal, each country was required to submit a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) outlining their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The Paris Agreement marked a significant milestone in the global effort to combat climate change, as it brought nearly all countries together under a shared commitment to address this critical issue. However, the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement ultimately depends on the strength and ambition of each country`s NDC.
As of 2021, over 190 countries have submitted NDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with many countries committing to ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the key elements of the NDCs include:
– Mitigation: Countries have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by a certain percentage by a specific year, often based on their own emissions baseline. For example, the United States has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030.
– Adaptation: Countries have also outlined their efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as by building resilient infrastructure or protecting vulnerable communities.
– Finance: Many countries have emphasized the need for financial support from developed countries to help them achieve their NDCs, particularly in the areas of mitigation and adaptation.
Despite the progress made since the Paris Agreement, many experts believe that current NDCs are still not ambitious enough to limit warming to below 2°C. In fact, a recent report by the UNFCCC found that, even if all countries fully implemented their current NDCs, global emissions would still be too high to meet the Paris Agreement`s goals.
As such, there is growing pressure on countries to update and strengthen their NDCs ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year. The United States, for example, recently submitted an updated NDC that includes a more ambitious emissions target and additional measures to increase climate finance.
In conclusion, the Paris Agreement and the NDCs submitted by each country represent a critical step forward in the global effort to address climate change. However, continued action and ambition will be necessary if we hope to limit warming to below 2°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
