The Paris climate agreement, also known as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, is a global initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and averting the worst effects of climate change. It was adopted in December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and became effective in November 2016.
The United States was a signatory to the Paris climate agreement, but in 2017 the then President, Donald Trump, announced the country`s withdrawal from the accord, citing concerns about the economic impact of the agreement on American jobs. President Joe Biden, however, has made rejoining the agreement a priority since taking office.
The Paris climate agreement sets a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this goal, the agreement requires each country to set its own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to regularly report on their progress.
The United States, under President Barack Obama, pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. Under the Trump administration, the country`s emissions reduction targets were abandoned and the U.S. became the only country to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
President Biden has pledged to put the U.S. back on track to meet its emissions reduction targets, and in April 2021, the White House announced a new target of cutting the country`s greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. This target is seen as a critical step toward achieving the goals of the Paris climate agreement, which requires countries to regularly update and strengthen their emissions reduction targets.
The Paris climate agreement also includes provisions for helping developing countries mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as by providing financial and technological assistance.
In summary, the Paris climate agreement is a global initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and averting the worst effects of climate change. The United States was a signatory to the agreement but withdrew in 2017. President Biden has made rejoining the agreement a priority and has pledged to cut the country`s greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. The agreement also includes provisions for helping developing countries mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.