Climate Change

The Promising Language Of The Paris Climate Agreement

Negotiators have approved an ambitious plan to reduce the effects of anthropogenic climate change.

The Promising Language Of The Paris Climate Agreement
Newsy / Evan Thomas
Article by Evan Thomas
SMS
December 12, 2015

A plan for long-term climate management is agreed to in Paris — and the participating nations expect to slow down the planet's gradual warming. (Video via French Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Nations intend to hold temperature increases below 2 °C — and want "to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C."

"Parties aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible," states Article 4 of the draft. 

The goal is to balance human-caused carbon emissions and natural carbon sinks "in the second half of this century."

The agreement will "reflect equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities."

In other words: Each nation will do what it can, and will make more ambitious reductions to emissions as technology improves. (Video via French Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

There will be checkups, "Each Party shall communicate a nationally determined contribution every five years."

This video includes images from Edward Boatman / CC BY 3.0.