Ten Years of the Paris Agreement: A Landmark Moment for Global Climate Cooperation

The Paris Agreement seeks to limit global temparature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to further limit it to 1.5°C. (Image:Greenpeace UK)

 Introduction: The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty, adopted by 196 countries at COP21 of UNFCCC in 2015, which seeks to bolster global commitments to deal with climate change. Entering into force in 2016, the agreement is legally binding in nature, with its focus on enhancing the ability of the countries to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of finance to this end.

Mechanisms under Paris Agreement:

• Long-Term Temparature Goal: The primary aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit global temparature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to further limit it to 1.5°C. The 1.5°C limit is imperative to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): The Paris Agreement does not impose mandatory emission reduction targets. Instead, it requires every country to formulate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which are voluntary in nature and require to be updated every five years.
• Global Stocktake: Spanning over a period of five years, its purpose is to assess the global collective efforts towards achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, encouraging the countries to introduce more ambitious goals.
• Mitigation: The agreement mandates all parties to prepare and update their NDCs, exhorting the developed countries to take the lead and calling upon the developing nations to enhance climate change mitigation efforts.
• Adaptation: Recognizing the necessity of adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change, the Paris Agreement introduces a global goal on strengthening the adaptive capacity, building resilience, and reducing the vulnerability of the countries at risk.
• Finance: Reiterating the commitment of developed countries to provide financial assistance to developing countries for seamless mitigation and adaptation, the agreement also encourages volunatry contributions from other countries.
• Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: The agreement facilitates technology transfer from developed to developing countries to ensure transition to a low-carbon economy, alongside capacity building of the developing countries for more effective climate action.

The Need for Paris Agreement: 

• Looming Threat of Climate Change:

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chage (IPCC) has repeatedly provided overwhelming evidence on human-induced climate change, pointing out that by the mid-21st century the world will experience rising sea levels, frequent extreme weather events and degradation of pristine habitats.
2. The scientific community has often emphasized that the global average temparature rise must be arrested below 2°C above pre-industrial levels to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.

• Limitations of Previous Agreements:

1. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) only imposed binding emission reduction targets for a small group of developed countries (Annex I countries), leaving out major emitters like the US and China. Besides, the top-down approach of the protocol led to resistance from the developed and the developing countries alike.
2. International negotiations following the Kyoto Protocol like the COP15 in Copenhagen (2009) failed to reconcile the developed and the developing countries and secure widespread participation.

India's Actions under Paris Agreement: India ratified the Paris Agreement on October 2, 2016, submitting its climate action plan via Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

1. Reduce Emissions Intensity: Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% (from 2005 levels) by 2030. (MoEFCC:Achieved 33% reduction)
2. Renewable Energy: 50% installed power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030. (MNRE:Reached 43% as of 2024)
3. Carbon Sink: Create 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide additional carbon sink via forests. (ISFR 2023:Forest cover increased by 1,540 sq km)
4. Sustainable Lifestyle: Introduced LiFE Mission (Lifestyle for Environment) at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

• Sector-Specific Actions:

1. Energy Transition: Target of 500 GW renewable capacity by 2030 (including 280 GW solar). 5 MMT green hydrogen production by 2030.
2. Transport: EV30@30 Campaign (30% EV sales by 2030), 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
3. Industry: PAT (Perform, Achieve, Trade) scheme to reduce energy use in industries. Carbon trading market launched in 2023 (aligned with Article 6 of Paris Agreement).
4. Agriculture: National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) to promote climate-resilient crops.

• Panchamrit Strategy: Announced by PM Modi at COP26 (2021) to achieve Net-Zero by 2070.

1. Reach 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity (solar, wind, hydro, nuclear) by 2030.
2. 50% of total energy from renewables by 2030.
3. Cut emissions per GDP by 45% by 2030.
4. Avoid 1 billion tonnes carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.
5. Achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

• International Initiatives:

1. International Solar Alliance (ISA): An action-oriented, treaty-based international organization launched in collaboration with France at COP21 of UNFCCC held in Paris in 2015.
2. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): A global partnership launched by India at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit to make climate and disaster resilient infrastructure.

Challenges with Paris Agreement:

• Lack of Enforcement and Ambition:

1. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are not legally binding in terms of their targets, with no formal enforcement mechanism if a country fails to meet these goals.
2. The collective NDCs submitted by the countries are insufficient to meet the long-term temparature goals.

• Climate Finance:

1. Inconsistency in meeting the $100 billion pledge per year by 2020 from developed countries hampers the ability of poorer states to invest in climate resilience projects.
2. A large portion of climate finance has not been delivered yet, impeding mitigation efforts and  aggravating the vulnerability of smaller nations.

• Political and Economic Hurdles:

1. Persistent geopolitical tensions disrupt international commitment to climate action e.g the US's withdrawal from the agreement.
2. The transition away from fossil fuels poses significant economic challenges to developing and underdeveloped countries which are heavily reliant on coal, oil, and gas.

• Transparency and Accountability:

1. Challenges exist in the Enhanced Tranparency Framework (ETF) which ensures that all countries provide consistent, accurate, and comprehensive data with respect to their mitigation efforts.
2. The absence of a specific carbon tax under the agreement leads to a less effective mechanism for change.

The Way Forward:

• Countries should be encouraged to submit more ambitious NDCs every five years to meet the 1.5°C target.
• Countries need to move beyond short-term pledges and create detailed, long-term strategies for decarbonization.
• Developed countries must seek to mobilize $100 billion per year to developing countries.
• A significant portion of climate finance must be directed towards adaptation, to ensure climate justice for the vulnerable countries.
• Transition to a low-carbon economy must include robust frameworks that address the concerns of all stakeholders on an equitable basis.
• It is essential to fully operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund which will provide the much-needed support to the most vulnerable countries.

Conclusion: The Paris Agreement is a work in progress. It is not a magic bullet that will solve the climate crisis on its own. Instead, it is the essential global framework that makes a coordinated and comprehensive response possible. The agreement's true power lies in its dynamic structure and its ability to continually push for greater ambition.