857. Progress Toward Achieving the Paris Agreement’s Climate Goals

On September 8, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) released a pivotal report assessing progress toward meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. The report was released ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC, which will take place in Dubai at the end of the year. The report unequivocally calls for stronger and faster action to combat climate change.

The core principle of the Paris Agreement revolves around the ambition to limit the escalation of the global average temperature, aiming to keep the increase below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an even more ambitious goal of staying below 1.5°C. Central to this effort is the encouragement of Parties to formulate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While the report acknowledges that the Paris Agreement's goal-setting has galvanized efforts to combat global warming, it underscores the urgency of moving away from the current trajectory. Achieving the 1.5°C goal will require a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 60% reduction by 2035, compared to 2019 levels, culminating in net-zero global carbon emissions by 2050.

Achieving net-zero emissions and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions will require a major overhaul of existing systems. This transformation includes a shift away from reliance on fossil fuels and the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources. It also involves halting deforestation, reducing non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing both demand-side and supply-side measures. At the same time, it is imperative that this transition ensures equitable outcomes, adheres to principles of climate justice, and adopts a context-specific approach to promote equitable mitigation outcomes.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Information Program)