Paris Climate Agreement: What It Is, What It Provides, and Where We Stand

The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, in Le Bourget, near Paris, during COP21. The agreement was negotiated by the 197 member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but today 191 of the 195 signatories are officially part of it. The main objective of the Paris Agreement is to keep the average global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, aiming for 1.5°C. To achieve this goal, the signatory countries have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and promoting policies to adapt to climate change. The agreement also promotes the strengthening of finance and technology to support developing nations.

The Paris Agreement sets out a series of concrete measures to limit climate change. Each signatory country has presented a national emissions reduction plan, known as NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions), which is periodically updated to increase ambition. The agreement also establishes monitoring and reporting mechanisms to ensure that progress is transparent and measurable. Additionally, it provides financial support for developing nations through the Green Climate Fund, to help them reduce their emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. Finally, the agreement includes the goal of mobilizing at least $100 billion annually to support the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Despite commitments made, progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement has so far been insufficient. According to the 2023 Emissions Gap Report by the United Nations, full implementation of the unconditional NDCs would lead to a temperature increase of about 2.9°C by the end of the century, well above the set targets. Even with the implementation of conditional NDCs, global warming would be limited to around 2.5°C. However, to stay in line with the 2°C and 1.5°C targets, global emissions should decrease by 28% and 42% by 2030, respectively. These data highlight the urgent need to accelerate climate action, increase mitigation efforts, and ensure that commitments made are effectively and timely realized.

The Paris Agreement was made possible thanks to the Katowice Package, adopted during COP24 in December 2018. This package is a set of rules and guidelines that enabled the operationalization of the Agreement, establishing common standards for global climate action. The Katowice Package covers various fundamental aspects, including transparency, financing, mitigation, and adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, it offers a flexible framework that adapts to the varying capacities of countries but ensures that the commitments made are clear, comparable, and measurable. Thanks to these guidelines, each country can progressively strengthen its national contributions (NDCs) in the fight against climate change, advancing towards the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.

COP28, scheduled for 2025, will be a crucial event to assess progress and strengthen global commitments. One of the key aspects will be the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with climate actions. Recognizing that climate policies can generate broad economic and social benefits is essential. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this alignment could result in significant economic benefits, with a potential of $43 trillion by 2070. Furthermore, at COP28, it's expected to triple the global capacity for renewable energy by 2030, helping to achieve climate goals and thus reducing CO2 emissions. However, scientists warn that without a radical change, the 1.5°C threshold could be exceeded in the next decade, with severe consequences for the environment and human societies.

The Paris Agreement introduced the concept of the Global Stocktake, a process that monitors countries' progress every five years and checks whether national commitments are sufficient to meet global climate goals. This process, which promotes transparency and accountability, urges countries to continuously strengthen their climate policies. Although the Global Stocktake represents an important tool for monitoring global action against climate change, current progress is still insufficient. To achieve the set goals, it is crucial that countries increase their ambitions, implement effective policies, and intensify international cooperation.

This article was created as part of the "Biodiversity services EU expansion" project (CUP: E43D22000480009) under the Regione Lombardia "PR FESR 2021-2027 – LINEA INTERNAZIONALIZZAZIONE 21-27" call for proposals, aimed at supporting the internationalization of Italian companies. 3Bee is the naturetech company that develops innovative technologies for monitoring, protecting, and regenerating biodiversity, supporting companies in defining customized climate strategies based on the analysis of their impacts and dependencies on nature. With a consolidated portfolio in Italy, Germany, and France and significant partnerships, 3Bee continues its expansion into international markets to create a concrete impact through technology.