The Paris Agreement is an international, legally binding treaty adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets a framework for nations to work together to fight the effects of global warming.

The agreement sets a long-term temperature goal of keeping the global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and striving to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 countries at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. The agreement intends to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

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The Paris agreement upsc is a topic relevant to the UPSC context under General Studies Paper iII (Environment & Ecology) for UPSC mains and Paper I for UPSC prelims. It is a basic topic for aspirants to understand the dynamic aspect of the Paris agreement upsc. The Paris agreement upsc is an essential topic for UPSC Civil Services because it highlights the role of international cooperation in addressing climate change and sustainable development, which is frequently discussed in the exam. Join UPSC Coaching today to boost your preparation. 

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The Paris Agreement on Climate change is a multilateral legally binding agreement on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The decision to adopt the agreement took place during the 21st Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris It was adopted on 12th December 2015 and was opened for signing on 22nd April 2016. By 4th November 2016, enough countries had ratified the agreement for it to come into force There are 195 signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement on climate change.

The Paris Agreement was envisioned in the 2009 Copenhagen Accord when it decided to assess the implementation by 2015 and ideate long-term goals The primary stated aim of the agreement was to bring down the global temperature levels by at least 1.5 degrees Celsius, relative to preindustrial times. It is guided by the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities. It means that all states are responsible for an environmental issue like climate change, but not equally responsible. The different national capabilities and the principle of equity need to be maintained. The Agreement talks about reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions reductions by 20%, increasing the renewable energy market share by 20%, and increasing energy efficiency by 20%.

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Aim of Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Paris climate accord goals were planned with a focus on rapid intervention of climate change. It ensures a sustainable and poverty-free future. Article 2 of Paris Climate Accord addresses the following goals-

• Restricting the rise in global mean temperature to below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The vision is to reduce the risks and impact of climate change.
• Improve resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ensure adaptability. This target seeks to balance any adverse impact on food production.
• Ensure low-cost financing for building climate resilience.

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Key Elements of the Paris Climate Agreement

Some of the important elements of the Paris agreement are given in the table below:

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Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Article 3 of the Paris Agreement refers to Nationally Determined Contributions, that are country-specific goals for reducing emissions and combating climate change. Each nation has to develop, pursue, and communicate its NDCs.

Year after year, the successive NDC projections should be higher than past NDCs, all the while considering the particular national circumstances Developed countries are called upon to prepare economy-wide absolute emission targets. Quantified emission targets are key to any focused action on climate change. Many international treaties have turned into mere paper as there were no quantified targets against which progress could be measured.

The Nationally Determined Contributions should be communicated in a clear and transparent manner and as prescribed by the decisions of the Conference of Parties. NDCs should be communicated once every 5 years. It is adjustable within these 5 years in case of higher ambitions. Each country’s NDC should be recorded in a public registry by the Secretariat. Proper accounting of emission reduction should be done to present comparable and consistent data. Double counting should be avoided at all costs.

The countries can use global transfer of mitigation outcomes for fulfilling their Nationally Determined Contributions, according to Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement. It will be a voluntary process.

India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

India's nation-specific goal for reducing emissions are as follows:

• Reduce the emissions intensity (relative to GDP) by around 35%. The target year is 2030 and the base year is 2005.
• Reduce the dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity. The target is to achieve about 40% of electricity needs from renewable energy resources by 2030.
• Improve carbon sink capacity in the form of forest cover. An increase in carbon sink that can deal with more than 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide is targeted.
• India has often asserted that its contribution to the issue of climate change is limited, but its willingness to cooperate with international efforts is fair and ambitious.
• India also decided to increase its dependence on renewable energy from 35 GW in 2015 to 175 GW by 2022.
• The government has been able to nudge private and public parties to increase their investments in clean energy.
• Government-run NTPC has vowed to install 60 GW of renewable energy by 2032.
• Cochin International Airport in Kerala earned repute for being the world’s first airport to fully function on Solar Power.
• Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries committed an investment of 75000 crores to renewable energy especially solar cells, lithium batteries, hydrogen cells, etc.

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Importance of the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is a global climate pact to limit global warming to well below 2°C. It unites countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. Some of the key aspects of the Paris agreement are:

• The Paris Agreement is a landmark achievement in global cooperation to combat climate change. It unites countries to combat the impacts of global warming collectively.
• The accord focuses both on mitigation and adaptation actions. It sets up a structure for nations to lower greenhouse gas emissions and build climate change resilience.
• The Paris Agreement sets a long-term temperature goal of keeping the global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and striving to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This ambitious target aims to prevent catastrophic climate consequences.
• The agreement compels nations to make their Nationally Determined Contributions. It describes what emission cuts and climate actions they aim to take. This transparency and accountability are pushed by making them progressively work better.
• The Paris Agreement acknowledges the need for financial and technological assistance to support developing nations in their climate action. It creates mechanisms for raising funds and technology transfer with a view to ensuring a fair level of participation.

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Criticisms of the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement lacks enforceable penalties for non-compliance, making it legally weak. Critics also argue that developed countries have not taken enough responsibility for their historical emissions. The Paris accord has been faulted on a number of grounds some of which are:

• Critics contend that the voluntary nature of the agreement is not backed by enforceability measures. This creates doubts about the real implementation and efficacy of the commitments by nations.
• Others claim that the targets for reducing emissions that countries have put forward under the agreement are not sufficiently ambitious to meet the long-term temperature objectives.
• Critics state that the responsibility for dealing with climate change falls disproportionately on the shoulders of developing nations. They contend that developed countries need to bear more responsibility and assist developing nations more.
• Its critics have argued that the Paris Agreement failed to fully favor adaptation approaches. These include essential measures required for vulnerable people under the threats posed by direct effects of climate change. Adaptation financing and assistance should feature higher, it asserts.

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Difference Between Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement

The Kyoto Protocol set binding emission targets only for developed countries, while the Paris Agreement involves voluntary pledges from all countries, both developed and developing. The table below gives a brief comparison between the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto protocol.

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