COP 21 adopts historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Conference of the Parties 21 (COP 21) have adopted the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
It was adopted by 189 countries of total 196 countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that attended the COP 21.
Key facts of Paris Agreement on Climate Change

• Facilitates enforcement of global greenhouse gas emission (GHGs) reduction measures in the post-2020 i.e. in post Kyoto Protocol scenario.
• Takes into account the principle of equity (climate justice) and common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) and respective capabilities.
• Based on consensus among the members that have incorporated their respective Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) including India.
• Mandatory for all Countries to keep global temperature rising below 2°C by 2100 above pre-industrial levels with an ideal target of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C.
• Developed countries to provide 100 billion dollars annually to the developing counterparts beginning in 2020 and it would increase with time.
• Empowers countries to determine how to cut their emissions but mandates that they report transparently on those efforts.
• Countries will assess their progress every five years for meeting their climate commitments and submit new plans to strengthen.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2015