Know all about The Paris Agreement

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a landmark because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

Working of Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). In their NDCs, countries voluntarily commit actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries also communicate in the NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures.

India & INDC Target

In its NDC, India has pledged to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels.
It has also pledged to increase the share of non-fossil fuels-based electricity to 40 per cent by 2030.
It has agreed to enhance its forest cover which will absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2_, the main gas responsible for global warming) by 2030.

How countries support the Agreement?

The Paris Agreement provides a framework for financial, technical and capacity building support to those countries who need it.

Finance

Finance is essential for climate-change mitigation, because large-scale investments are required to drastically reduce emissions.
Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, as significant financial resources are needed to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of a changing climate.
The Paris Agreement reaffirms that developed countries should take the lead in providing financial assistance to developing countries and least developed countries.
For the first time also encouraging voluntary contributions by other Parties.

Technology

The Paris Agreement envisions to fully realizing technology development and transfer for not only improving resilience to climate change but also reducing GHG emissions.
It establishes a technology framework to provide complete guidance to the well-functioning Technology Mechanism.
The mechanism is accelerating technology development and transfer through it’s policy and implementation arms.

Capacity-Building

Paris Agreement gave priority to climate-related capacity-building for developing countries.
It requests all developed countries to enhance support for capacity-building actions in developing countries, which do not have sufficient capacities to deal with many of the challenges brought by climate change.

Reviewing the progress

Countries, under Paris Agreement, agreed to establish an enhanced transparency framework (ETF).
Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress achieved in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.
This will lead to recommendations for countries to set more ambitious plans in the next round.

Achievements

Although more accelerated climate change action is needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the years since its entry into force have already sparked low-carbon solutions and new markets. More and more countries, regions, cities and companies are establishing carbon neutrality targets. Zero-carbon solutions, which are more noticeable in the power and transport sectors, are becoming competitive across economic sectors representing 25% of emissions.

It is estimated that by 2030, zero-carbon solutions could be competitive in sectors representing over 70% of global emissions.

Daily Current Affairs

Daily Free Live Classes, Check Here

Ongoing Live Courses

IAS 2022 Foundation Course For GS (Pre cum Main)

IAS 2021 Crash Course for Prelims

Free Notes

UPSC Prelims Study Notes

UPSC Mains Study Notes

Get Unlimited access to 70+ Mock Tests-BYJU'S Exam Prep Test Series