The United States’ Paris Agreement Commitment: What It Is and Why It Matters
In December 2015, the world watched as nearly 200 countries came together in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21). The goal of the conference was to reach a global agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. After two weeks of negotiations, the Paris Agreement was born.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty that aims to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this goal, all signatory countries pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to regularly report on their progress.
The United States, under the Obama administration, played a leading role in negotiating the Paris Agreement and was one of the first countries to ratify it. However, in 2017, President Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the agreement, citing the potential economic impact on American workers.
Despite this setback, many states, cities, and companies within the United States have made their own commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and upholding the goals of the Paris Agreement.
For example, the state of California has set a target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Several major corporations, including Walmart, Apple, and Google, have committed to powering their operations with 100% renewable energy by a certain date.
These commitments are not only important for their potential impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also for their influence on national policy. When enough states, cities, and companies take action on climate change, it can create a groundswell of support for broader policy change at the national level.
Furthermore, upholding the Paris Agreement is important for maintaining global cooperation and leadership on climate change. The United States has historically been a leader in international efforts to combat climate change, and its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement was seen as a significant setback for global climate action.
With a new administration in place, the United States has rejoined the Paris Agreement and recommitted to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. President Biden has announced a target of achieving a 50-52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
This renewed commitment from the United States is a promising sign for global efforts to combat climate change. However, much work remains to be done to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global temperature rise to safe levels.
In conclusion, the United States’ Paris Agreement commitment is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change. By upholding its commitment to the Paris Agreement, the United States can play a key role in global efforts to protect our planet for future generations.