The Paris Agreement, a global treaty signed in 2015, has been hailed as a historic moment in the fight against climate change. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further, to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Now, five years later, we ask: what are the results of the Paris Agreement?
There have been significant steps forward. To date, 195 countries have signed the agreement, and 189 have ratified it. This means that the vast majority of the world`s nations have committed to taking action against climate change.
One key result of the Paris Agreement has been the increase in renewable energy sources. In the United States, for example, solar power has become a major source of electricity, with the country adding 10.6 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2018 alone. China, the world`s largest carbon emitter, has invested heavily in renewable energy, with its solar capacity increasing by 50% in 2017.
In addition, many countries have committed to phasing out fossil fuels. Norway, for example, has pledged to stop using coal for energy by 2025, while the UK plans to phase out coal entirely by 2025.
Another significant result has been the increase in public awareness of climate change. The Paris Agreement brought the issue to the forefront of public discourse, with many people becoming more aware of the urgent need for action. This has led to a groundswell of support for climate action, with protests and demonstrations taking place around the world.
However, there is still much work to be done. Despite the progress made, the world is still far from meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, with 2019 marking the highest level of CO2 emissions on record.
Furthermore, many countries have yet to take sufficient action to reduce emissions. The United States, for example, has announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and has rolled back many of the climate policies put in place by the previous administration.
Overall, the results of the Paris Agreement are mixed. While there have been significant steps forward, there is still much work to be done if we are to meet the goals of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The world must continue to take bold action to address climate change, and to hold countries accountable for their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Only then can we hope to secure a sustainable future for ourselves and for future generations.