Environmental Politics Climate Change Politics Questions Medium
There are several major international agreements and treaties related to climate change that have been established over the years. These agreements aim to address the global issue of climate change and promote international cooperation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating its impacts. Some of the key agreements and treaties include:
1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Adopted in 1992, the UNFCCC is a global treaty that serves as the foundation for international efforts to combat climate change. It sets out the objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and requires countries to regularly report on their emissions and mitigation efforts.
2. Kyoto Protocol: Adopted in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty under the UNFCCC that sets binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. It introduced the concept of carbon trading and established mechanisms for countries to meet their targets, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI).
3. Paris Agreement: Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty under the UNFCCC. It aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement requires all participating countries to submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outlining their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
4. Montreal Protocol: Although primarily focused on protecting the ozone layer, the Montreal Protocol has also contributed to climate change mitigation. It aims to phase out the production and consumption of substances that deplete the ozone layer, many of which are also potent greenhouse gases.
5. Copenhagen Accord: Although not a legally binding treaty, the Copenhagen Accord emerged from the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. It recognized the need to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius and included voluntary emission reduction targets submitted by both developed and developing countries.
6. Marrakech Accords: These accords were adopted in 2001 and established the rules and guidelines for implementing the Kyoto Protocol. They clarified issues related to emissions trading, compliance, and accounting methods.
These agreements and treaties represent significant milestones in international efforts to address climate change. However, it is important to note that their effectiveness depends on the commitment and actions of individual countries to fulfill their obligations and implement the necessary measures to combat climate change.