On Saturday 12 December 2015, 196 countries formally adopted the Paris Agreement on climate change. The Agreement marks the first global treaty addressing climate change, that will enter into force once ratified by at least 55 countries, covering at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The full Paris Agreement is available here. There are also numerous summaries of the text, including these two that we found helpful:
- The Paris climate agreement at a glance | The Conversation | Emil Jeyaratnam, James Whitmore, Michael Hopkin, and Wes Mountain
- 27 Numbers for the Paris Agreement | Climate Interactive | Andrew Jones, Ellie Johnson, John Sterman, Elizabeth Sawin, Lori Siegel, Jennifer Haskell, and Phil Rice
The Paris Agreement has prompted a range of responses from world leaders, climate scientists, indigenous leaders, and members of civil society:
- World leaders hail Paris climate deal as ‘major leap for mankind’ | The Guardian | John Vidal, Adam Vaughan, Suzanne Goldenberg, Lenore Taylor, and Daniel Boffey
- Landmark climate deal approved by nearly 200 countries in Paris | PBS NewsHour | Michael D. Regan
“Many segments contain very vague language, but this kind of constructive ambiguity is often the only way to get a deal done – the actual meaning will only develop over time.”
– Oliver Geden, head of the European Union Research Division
- Scientists Warn: The Paris Climate Agreement Needs Massive Improvement | The Nation | Mark Hertsgaard
- Indigenous Peoples Take Lead at D12 Day of Action in Paris –Official response to COP21 agreement | Indigenous Environmental Network | Dallas Goldtooth
- Beyond Paris and the temptation to despair | Waging Nonviolence | George Lakey
- Global Consensus on Climate Change Is a Good Start | Yale Global Online | Scott Barrett
With some predictable back-and-forth:
- James Hansen, father of climate change awareness, calls Paris talks ‘a fraud’ | The Guardian | Oliver Milman
- John Kerry rejects leading climate scientist’s claim Paris talks were ‘fraud’ | The Guardian | Oliver Milman
How about you? What is your response to the Agreement? Does it move us towards the changes required, what steps are needed next?
Please share your perspective and any resources you have found informative through the comment section below.
The views and opinions expressed through the MAHB Website are those of the contributing authors and do not necessarily reflect an official position of the MAHB. The MAHB aims to share a range of perspectives and welcomes the discussions that they prompt.