O Paris Agreement it is an international commitment discussed among 195 countries with the objective of minimizing the consequences of global warming.
It was adopted during the Conference of the Parties - COP 21, in Paris, in 2015.
World leaders approve the Paris Agreement
Paris Agreement: current situation
The most recent international treaty is the Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties took place in Paris.
The Paris agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change. It was approved by the 195 participating countries that committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This boils down to keeping the Earth's average temperature below 2 °C, above pre-industrial levels. In addition to efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Developed countries have also pledged to provide financial benefits to the poorest countries so that they can tackle climate change.
However, for it to take effect, it needs the ratification of at least 55 countries responsible for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Brazil completed its ratification of the Paris Agreement on September 12, 2016.
In a document sent to the UN, the Brazilian goals are:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% below 2005 levels by 2025.
- In succession, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
The most recent event on the Paris Agreement was the withdrawal of the United States, announced in June 2017. This news was received with considerable concern, as the United States is one of the biggest polluters on the planet.
Learn more about Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming.
Historical context
To understand global warming it is necessary to remember the process of Industrial Revolution.
Changing the way products are manufactured led to the creation of machines. These were powered by coal and later oil.
Both are non-renewable sources of energy and give off carbon that is responsible for the increase in temperatures on Earth.
Likewise, by choosing oil as the energy source for automobiles, the problem of pollution and global warming has only worsened.
It must be remembered that the first electric vehicle model dates back to 1835 and was built in the United States.
However, with the popularization of combustion cars manufactured by Henry Ford, electric cars become very expensive and are abandoned by the industry.
The problems of contamination and global warming are observable first in the modification of the natural environment and in people's health.
Thus, in the 1960s, civil society and governments began to worry about the consequences of industrialization.
Supported by the UN, the first conference on the environment is held in Stockholm, Sweden.
Other meetings would be held throughout the 60s with the aim of fine-tuning global policies that would contain the advance of global warming.
Read more at Second Industrial Revolution.
Environmental Treaties
The concern with environmental issues was the subject of several international agreements in recent decades.
Stockholm Conference
THE Stockholm Conference was held June 5-16, 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden.
It was the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held by the United Nations (UN). It represented the beginning of international discussions on the Environment.
Montreal Protocol
O Montreal Protocol it is an international agreement, signed in 1987. Its objective is to reduce the emission of CFC gases, which are responsible for destroying the ozone layer.
Rio-92
THE Rio-92 took place 20 years after the Stockholm Conference. Also called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the event was held in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992.
On the occasion, 172 countries got together to assess the main environmental problems and discuss targets for reducing the impacts they generate.
As a result, the Agenda 21, which involved the social, economic, cultural, educational and environmental dimensions of populations.
The objective was to lead to the sustainable development as a way to improve the quality of life of people and the environment.
Kyoto Protocol
O Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty signed in 1997 in the city of Kyoto, Japan. The objective was to warn of the increase in the greenhouse effect and global warming.
It was important because it was the first agreement to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets. The Kyoto Protocol only came into effect in 2005, during COP 11, in Montreal.
Rio + 10
THE Rio + 10 took place between August 26 and September 4, 2002, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The purpose of the meeting was to assess the progress made in the agreements defined at Rio-92. The event also served to reinforce the need and urgency to meet what was agreed during Rio-92.
COP 15
The Conference of the Parties on Climate was held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The event took place from December 7th to 18th, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss alternatives to face global warming.
The scenario pointed out by scientists is that the Earth's temperature could not increase by more than 2 °C from pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.
Otherwise, an irreversible point of climate change will be reached.
Rio + 20
THE Rio + 20, also called the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, took place between June 13 and 22, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro.
It was one of the biggest events ever held by the UN and had the participation of more than 180 countries.
Its objective was to strengthen and ensure sustainable development among the countries involved. A widely discussed topic was the Green Economy, which means economic growth combined with a reduction in the emission of polluting gases.
Learn more about environmental issues, read also:
- Environment
- Climate changes
- Environmental impacts
- Ozone layer
- Trump government
