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Paris Agreement

Rosie Crawford

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is a set of goals and targets aiming to mitigate climate change. It was agreed to in 2015 by 193 countries and the European Union. The primary goal of the agreement is to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, at most 2 degrees. The Paris Agreement was reached at COP21, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

  • The Paris Agreement was reached on Dec. 12, 2015, at COP21, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  • The agreement set the following goals to guide the world’s nations:
  • A substantial reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, at most 2 degrees Celsius;
  • Review of country commitments every five years;
  • Provision of financing to developing countries to aid in their climate change mitigation and strengthen their resilience as they face the impacts of climate change.
  • It is a legally binding, international treaty. As of September 2022, 194 parties have joined the Paris Agreement.
  • The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2020 and rejoined in 2021.
  • The Paris Agreement marks the beginning of a shift toward a net-zero world and is essential in achieving the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Every five years, each party that is part of the Paris Agreement is expected to submit an updated national climate action—known as a Nationally Determined Contribution.