5-minute summary of the Paris Climate Agreement

For several decades, scientists, activists, politicians, and educators have been warning about the dangers caused by global warming. Until recently, this problem was not taken seriously and was beyond the realm of concern for most people. However, as reports of rising sea levels, rapidly degrading air quality, and an exponential increase in natural disasters mount, the world is finally taking notice. On November 4, 2016, the Paris Climate Agreement entered into force with the support of 195 countries. This is the world’s first global climate agreement and its main goal is to keep the global average temperature rise to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

Why is this so important?

Our Mother Earth is being destroyed and she needs all the help she can get to fight back. The vast majority of the scientific community agrees that if we cannot stop global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, life as we know it will cease to exist within our lifetime. Many reports claim that we have between 6 and 20 years before global warming becomes irreversible, but the general consensus is about 12 years. We have already lost countless species of wildlife due to global warming and we see many more populations shrinking every day. Every year since 2008, an average of 24 million people are displaced by climate-related disasters around the world.

What does the Paris Agreement cover?

Given that there are so many variables in the fight against climate change, as well as differences in each nation’s emissions, use of renewable energy, and economic capabilities, the Paris Agreement is open-ended. This means that each country sets its own targets known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs. These NDCs only require that they be ambitious to reach the overall goal, that they are reported every 5 years and that each one is more ambitious than the previous one. Countries can group their NDCs as some of them have already done. There are no binding consequences, such as penalties or tariffs, for those who do not meet their targets. So far, only a handful of countries have made significant progress towards their goals.

What has been done so far?

So far, only two countries have made large enough commitments to avoid global warming to the preferred 1.5°C rise: Morocco and The Gambia. Morocco has commissioned the world’s largest concentrated solar panel plant, reduced government subsidies for non-renewable fossil fuels and dramatically increased its imports of natural gas. They hope to get 40% of their power from renewable energy within the next year. The Gambia is a developing country in Africa that has a massive reforestation project in the works and is currently only responsible for an inconsequential amount of carbon emissions.

While the minimum target of a 2°C global temperature rise is the goal of the Paris Agreement, only five other countries are meeting that target: India, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Bhutan. India, currently one of the worst polluters in the world, hopes to generate 40% of its energy from renewable resources as soon as this year. They have achieved this by refusing to open any new coal plants, installing substantial solar farms, and promoting electric vehicles. Costa Rica has been generating almost all of its power from renewable energy resources for years. While Bhutan’s total land mass is currently 60% covered by forest, it is also known as one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world and is praised for its conservation efforts.

2 big changes that need to be made

1) The world’s biggest polluters must make radical and fundamental changes to their society and infrastructure. This list includes the United States, China, Germany, Russia, Japan, and the European Union. They must say no to any new coal or nuclear power plants, provide funding for renewable energy resources, and increase energy efficiency. At a minimum, they must follow the 20/20/20 policy which states they reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, increase renewable energy use by 20%, and increase energy efficiency by 20%. If this goal is not met in the next 5 to 10 years, it will be too late.

2) We must modernize our global aviation and shipping infrastructure. This includes shipping more internationally by cargo instead of air, increasing the efficiency of aviation equipment, and maximizing the number of trips taken by flying only fully loaded. Although some electric aircraft are already being designed and tested, they are not expected to be used commercially until 2030 at the earliest.