The history of significant climate agreements

University courses Politics
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Climate agreements have been pivotal in addressing the global challenge of climate change. Here’s a brief history of key international climate agreements:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

  • Adopted in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • The UNFCCC is a framework treaty aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
  • It established the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) to assess progress and negotiate further actions.

Kyoto Protocol:

  • Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, as an extension of the UNFCCC.
  • It set binding emissions reduction targets for developed countries (Annex I countries) for the period 2008-2012.
  • It introduced market-based mechanisms like emissions trading and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Copenhagen Accord:

  • Drafted during the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
  • Not a legally binding treaty but represents political commitments by some countries to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Emphasized the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Paris Agreement:

  • Adopted in 2015 at COP21 in Paris, France.
  • A landmark agreement with the aim of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  • Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, it includes commitments from both developed and developing countries.
  • Requires countries to submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outlining their climate actions and goals.
  • Provides a framework for financial assistance from developed to developing countries to aid in mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Kigali Amendment:

  • Added to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 2016.
  • Aims to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

These agreements represent significant milestones in international efforts to address climate change. However, implementation and strengthening of commitments remain ongoing challenges.

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it’s so inspiring to see how these international agreements have been shaping our global response to the crisis. The Paris Agreement seems like a game-changer with its ambitious goals and commitments from both developed and developing countries.

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Have only heard about the Paris agreement before🫨 But was interesting to read about the different ones

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