Paris Agreement 2015 on Climate Change and Current Status

The Paris Agreement 2015 on Climate Change is a global pact where nations committed to limit global warming, reduce emissions, and promote sustainable development.

Table of Contents

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has set up a National Designated Authority (NDA), a mandatory body under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement (2015).

About Paris Agreement

Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty that aims to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.
It aims to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, to limit it to 1.5 °C.

Article 28 of the Paris Agreement

It lays down the procedure and timeline for a country’s withdrawal from the treaty.
If a member state wants to withdraw from the treaty, it has to submit the notification of withdrawal to the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN.
Withdrawal becomes effective one year after notification to the UN’s Office of Legal Affairs.
During this period, the country must fully participate in the Agreement’s activities.

What Paris Agreement State?

Under the Paris Agreement, nearly every country in the world agreed to a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
It is a pact that is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) in the Rio Earth Summit.
It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

Current State of Climate

Article 6 of Paris Agreement

Article 6: Enables the use of international carbon markets to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Article 6.2: Countries can cooperate by linking their emissions trading systems through a common accounting framework.
Article 6.4 (also known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM)): Create a UN-supervised mechanism to trade emission reduction credits from specific projects.

NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions)

These are national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, outlining each country’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
They include strategies for both mitigation and adaptation.
India’s Current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Targets
Reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
Achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Develop an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover by 2030.
India has already met the non-fossil energy capacity target of 50% by June 2025, five years ahead of schedule.

What is a Nationally Designated Authority?

These are government bodies that act as the link between a country and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), providing strategic oversight and conveying national priorities for financing low-emission and climate-resilient development.
Composition: 21-member committee, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Countries that have designated an NDA:
India has finalized a list of 14 eligible activities under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, including renewable energy with storage, offshore wind, green hydrogen, green ammonia, sustainable fuels, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

Impact of US Withdrawal

The U.S. withdrawal poses a significant setback to global climate mitigation efforts.
This will give China and the European Union a competitive edge in the booming clean energy economy and lead to fewer opportunities for American workers.
By exiting the Paris Agreement, the U.S. has eroded its standing in global climate discussions.
- This decision undermines international efforts to combat climate change and diminishes the nation’s influence in shaping future environmental policies.
Despite federal rollbacks, state-level initiatives and private-sector leadership continue to push for sustainability.
E.g., California’s climate laws and international fashion brands remain committed to environmental goals, highlighting the importance of subnational and private actions in driving climate commitments.

Facts

The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2020 but rejoined in 2021.
Out of 198 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 195 have ratified the treaty.