History of the UN Climate Summit
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in 1992 with the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing dangerous climate change. The UNFCCC holds an annual Conference of the Parties (COP), where countries come together to negotiate and adopt agreements on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Challenges to Reaching Consensus on Climate Change
Reaching consensus on climate change is challenging for several reasons. First, the science of climate change is complex and uncertain, and there is disagreement among some scientists about the extent and severity of the problem. Second, climate change is a global problem that requires cooperation from all countries, but there are different perspectives on how to address it. Developed countries, which have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases, argue that they should bear more of the burden of reducing emissions. Developing countries, on the other hand, argue that they need to be able to develop their economies and that they should not be held to the same standards as developed countries.
What’s Different About the Paris Climate Talks?
The Paris climate talks, also known as COP21, are different from previous climate summits in several ways. First, the Paris talks are the first to be held under the UNFCCC’s new “bottom-up” approach. Under this approach, each country is asked to pledge to what it believes is the most realistic course of action for its unique needs. These pledges are then stitched together into a global agreement.
Second, the Paris talks are taking place at a time when there is growing public and political momentum for action on climate change. The release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report in 2013, which concluded that it is extremely likely that human activity is the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century, has helped to raise awareness of the urgency of the climate change problem.
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement adopted in 1997 that committed developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5 percent against 1990 levels. The United States never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, and it expired in 2012.
The Role of Developing Countries in Addressing Climate Change
Developing countries are playing an increasingly important role in addressing climate change. While developed countries have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases, developing countries are now responsible for a significant share of global emissions. This is due in part to the rapid growth of their economies and the increasing use of fossil fuels.
The Bottom-Up Approach
The bottom-up approach is a new way of negotiating climate agreements that was adopted at the Paris climate talks. Under this approach, each country is asked to pledge to what it believes is the most realistic course of action for its unique needs. These pledges are then stitched together into a global agreement.
The Odds of Success in the Paris Climate Talks
The odds of success in the Paris climate talks are uncertain. There are many challenges that need to be overcome, including the different perspectives of developed and developing countries, the complexity of the science, and the need for political will. However, there is also a growing public and political momentum for action on climate change, and the Paris talks are taking place at a time when there is a greater sense of urgency than ever before.