International efforts and agreements aimed at mitigating climate change

Sample Solution

     

There have been many international efforts and agreements aimed at mitigating climate change. Here are some of the most important:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The UNFCCC is the first global treaty to explicitly address climate change. It was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994. The UNFCCC has three main goals: to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system; to adapt to the impacts of climate change; and to promote and facilitate the transfer of technology, knowledge, and financial resources to developing countries.

Full Answer Section

      Kyoto Protocol: The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005. The Kyoto Protocol sets binding emissions targets for developed countries. These countries are required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5% below 1990 levels. Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020. The agreement aims to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. These are just a few of the many international efforts and agreements aimed at mitigating climate change. There has been some progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but more needs to be done. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 and be reduced by 45% by 2030 to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The IPCC is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988. The IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, released in 2013, concluded that it is extremely likely that human activities caused more than half of the observed increase in global mean surface temperature from 1951 to 2010. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, released in 2021, concluded that it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. The report also concluded that human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. The IPCC's reports are used by governments, businesses, and other organizations to make decisions about climate change mitigation and adaptation. The reports are also used by the public to understand the science of climate change and its impacts. The international community is facing a daunting challenge in mitigating climate change. However, there is still time to act. By working together, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.