Which Countries Are on Track to Meet Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is a landmark international agreement aimed at combating climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement sets out a framework for countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. As we approach the midway point between when the agreement was signed and when it takes full effect, it is worth looking at which countries are on track to meet their commitments.
According to the most recent data available, released by the Climate Action Tracker in November 2021, only a handful of countries are on track to meet their targets under the Paris Agreement. These include Bhutan, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, and Morocco. These countries have implemented policies and measures to reduce emissions and increase the use of renewable energy, and have been praised for their efforts.
Other countries, however, are not on track to meet their commitments. The United States, for example, has set a target of reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, but current policies and measures will only achieve a reduction of 37-45%. Similarly, China, the world`s largest emitter, has pledged to reach peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, but current policies and measures are not enough to achieve these goals.
Overall, the Climate Action Tracker estimates that current policies and measures will result in a global temperature rise of 2.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, far above the Paris Agreement target. This highlights the urgent need for countries to increase their efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change.
It is important to note that the Paris Agreement is a voluntary agreement, and each country sets its own targets and policies. However, the agreement has been widely hailed as a historic achievement in the fight against climate change, and it is crucial that countries work together to achieve its goals.
In conclusion, only a few countries are on track to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, and urgent action is needed to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While it is encouraging to see some countries taking significant steps to combat climate change, there is still much work to be done to limit global warming and protect our planet for future generations.