The issue of global climate change has been a pressing concern for the past few decades. Climate change agreements have been established to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. However, not all agreements have been successful in achieving their goals. In this article, we will list three global climate change agreements that have been successful and those that have failed.
1. The Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, is considered a successful agreement in addressing the issue of climate change. The goal of the agreement is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this goal, countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Several countries, including the United States and China, have made significant progress in meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement. As of 2020, 189 countries have ratified the agreement, and 173 have submitted their climate action plans. However, some critics argue that the agreement lacks enforcement mechanisms to ensure countries meet their commitments.
2. The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol, established in 1997, was the first global climate change agreement to set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement required developed countries to reduce their emissions by an average of 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012.
While the Kyoto Protocol represented a significant step forward in addressing climate change, its effectiveness was limited. The United States, one of the world`s largest emitters, did not ratify the agreement, and some countries, such as Canada, failed to meet their targets. Additionally, the exclusion of developing countries from the binding targets has been criticized.
3. The Copenhagen Accord
The Copenhagen Accord, established in 2009, was a non-binding agreement that aimed to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement required developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and developing countries to take action to reduce their emissions.
However, the Copenhagen Accord failed to gain widespread support and was criticized for being too weak. The agreement lacked specific targets and commitments, and developing countries were not provided with adequate financial support to reduce their emissions.
In conclusion, while global climate change agreements have been established to address the issue of climate change, their effectiveness has varied. The Paris Agreement represents a successful agreement in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while the Kyoto Protocol was limited in its effectiveness. The Copenhagen Accord failed to gain widespread support and was criticized for its lack of specific targets. As the world continues to face the challenges of climate change, it is essential for countries to work together and establish effective agreements that can achieve meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
